Home Construction
Kristina customized a stock house plan, giving a family their design-build dream home without the design-build cost.
Kristina managed every aspect of the project from the ground up as the client had hired an out-of-town builder. Additionally, Kristina took over the design duties from the architect who supplied the drawings.
Upon visiting the parcel with the client, Kristina reoriented the house 90 degrees from where it was placed on the site map to better capture natural light and drive-up appeal.
The stock house plan directed that the space be divided into many rooms. Instead, Kristina reconfigured the home as an open-concept modern farmhouse. Every square foot was reworked.
To bring the outside in, Kristina respecified all windows and doors, simplifying their lines and making them larger. She also added more windows to make the exterior inviting and the interior light-filled.
The client had grown up with a second-floor family room and wished for the same in this house. Kristina and her team created a large room with soaring ceilings; it would become a favorite gathering spot. With the client expecting her fourth child, they also added a third story that featured two bedrooms, a walk-in closet, and a bathroom.
Kristina chose every item for the home and supervised the installation, including appliances, cabinetry, doors, flooring, lighting, paint, tile, wallpaper, windows, and all fixtures and fittings.
Rather than purchase materials from high-end suppliers as is typical with a custom home, Kristina sourced from discount houses to make the client’s budget go further. Not everything has to be top-of-the-line to operate reliably and have a premium feel.
A year from start to finish, and with a client’s baby on the way, Kristina was there daily to ensure that every aspect of the project was done correctly. The best part of her job is when a space becomes a home.
To achieve the whitewashed look, Rubio Monocoat options were applied to oak flooring. Cotton white (foreground) was the winner.
The client is a glam fan! Kristina sourced gold schoolhouse bricks and installed them in a herringbone pattern. She mixed metals–the golden sun mirror, polished chrome faucet, and hand-hammered silver basin–to shimmering effect.
Kristina made the client’s Pinterest find a reality–and the heart of the third-story bathroom.
Contemporary and stunning, Kristina selected the Muriel Chandelier to grace the back entrance. The light fixture is fondly referred to as the “bubble chandelier.”
A bubble railing to match the bubble chandelier. The hand-forged beauty can be admired from every angle of the open-concept floor plan.
Materials board brainstorming sessions with the client led to one-of-a-kind spaces that reflect the client’s personal aesthetic.
White oak was a central design element as the home is located on White Oak Shade Road.
Photography / Dan Murdoch and Kristina Larson