Project Reveal: A 1990s Home Reimagined

THE STORY

Every great home tells a story. This one just needed an editor... and maybe a big, bold headline. And possibly also some re-writing.

When our clients reached out, they’d already dipped a toe into updates (fresh paint, new lights, some art and furniture pieces), but the downstairs of their 1992 Plano, Texas home still felt disjointed: some rooms refreshed, others still stuck.

They wanted cohesion. They wanted functionality. They wanted a downstairs that told one story, not five.

And the best part? They weren’t afraid of a little drama.

With a love of bold contrasts, rich textures, and meaningful heirlooms, our clients were all in on creating a space that felt layered, stylish, and personal.

Our job? Make it all sing like an orchestra. Every piece playing it's own note, building a cohesively beautiful song (I'm not a musician and I feel like I'm losing the thread of this metaphor, but stick with me).

THE BEFORE

Built in 1992, the house had great bones, but it was showing its age. And it wasn't quite coming together.

The kitchen cabinets were painted but felt piecemeal, and lacked some functionality (all doors and no drawers makes a chef want to scream). The living spaces lacked connection. And the primary suite had... let's just say, a strong 90s vibe (hello brown marble and a glass block wall...but we'll come back to that).

Some pieces were treasures—like the four leather wingback chairs and a vintage family chandelier—but overall, the home needed a sense of intention. A through-line. A little bit of polish and a whole lot of personality.

THE PLAN

Instead of starting from scratch, we got scrappy—and strategic. Two of our superpowers, TBH.

Here’s how we turned it all around:

• Strategic Cabinet Upgrades: Keep existing kitchen where possible. In the kitchen, swap out door/drawer fronts, building a new hyper-functional appliance station, adding reeded glass accents, and elevating with new hardware. Upgrade the home office built ins and add in some new ones for maximum impact and functionality. 

• Master Suite Remodel: The Master Bathroom was the only room to get a full-gut overhaul. The shower was leaking, the built in tub wasn't ideal, and the cabinet layout was choppy, confusing, and lacking in storage. And so much brown.

• Furniture Strategy: Kept key existing pieces—leather chairs, dining table and chairs, breakfast furniture—to allow for budget focus on high-impact updates.

• Color and Drama: big, bold moves in each space to tie the downstairs together.

  
  

We hustled hard to fast-track construction before the family’s big summer trip, giving them a (mostly) dust-free return.

Then we caught our breath, thoughtfully layering in the furnishings and final touches afterward.

THE AFTER

Let's get things started in the entryway.

We refreshed the staircase with new railing in a dramatic black. The heirloom family piano sits front and center.

Just beyond the entryway is the new and improved home office, with possibly our favorite feature in the house...

The Beauty and the Beast library ladder! Did I woosh across this several (dozen) times to be sure it worked. Of course.

For science.

The lower two-thirds of these built ins are original (and were, of course, in a super 90's oak). We added the ladder and extended the bookshelves all the way to the ceiling to house the homeowners' extensive book collection. The mementos are special pieces collected over time, and now our client's Zoom backdrop is the envy of all his colleagues.

Let's take an about-face and head to the Dining Room.

The dining table, side chairs, and that incredible chandelier were already here to work with. The dining table is actually a pool table in disguise! We added head chairs, art, and accessories to soften the space.

Just beyond is possibly my favorite room, which we nicknamed The Non-Smoker's Lounge, because it looks like you could light up a cigar in here, but please don't.

We kept the leather wingback chairs and added built ins, a cozy rug, and our client's Grandmother's vintage chandelier. We also painted out the ceiling in black for extra drama.

A not-to-be-missed detail here is the reeded glass fronts on the new bar built ins. Just look at them when they're open...

The inside is white oak, and the doors pocket back to reveal a record player, glassware, and other bar essentials.

On the feature wall is a gallery of images of travels and key family moments. Printed in a Sepia tone to give that vintage, 1960's restaurant lounge effect.

Through door number 2 we move into the Kitchen. The layout and majority of the cabinets were kept the same to maximize the budget, but that doesn't mean it doesn't look brand new.

The cabinets received all new door and drawer fronts, as well as hardware. The base cabinets are washed in black - a tie-in to the Lounge beyond - and the island oak for warmth. The upper cabinets are white to keep this narrow space from feeling tight.

In this all new section of cabinetry, we added a beverage center, drawers, and these incredible doors...

...which serve as an appliance garage and are a great way to house small kitchen appliances. 

The new, modern light fixture over the island adds an artistic touch with blown glass globes, and was the ideal choice over this narrow island to add interest (and much needed light) without becoming a head-knocking hazard!

In the breakfast area, we worked with the existing furniture, mirror, and light and layered in a family gallery wall and plants. Always plants.

The Living Room got a glow-up as well with all new furnishings. Ready for lounging and entertaining, which our clients do often (unlike everyone on HGTV who claims to but never actually does). Cozy upholstered items are paired with more movable chairs and ottomans to accommodate large or small groups.

Onto the Master Suite! Praise the Lord, our clients are the only people in Texas who do not require a ceiling fan to sleep. Wish I was one of them, but dang, it's hot here. It allowed us the rare opportunity to add a lovely chandelier in this space.

A cozy rug, end of bed bench, and fresh bedding give this room a hotel-but-better feeling.

The artwork was a treasured piece of theirs, but it was lost on the prior white walls. We drenched the walls in a moody slate-gray hue to let that art (and these new, funky lamps) pop.

Layering textures is the best way to make a bedroom feel luxurious. A mix of linen, velvet, ribbed wood, chunky throw, and woven rug all come together to create a bedroom you don't want to leave.

Oh, and a squishy leather chair-and-a-half doesn't hurt either. The sweeping floor to ceiling curtains are bordered in a slate and navy trim that ties into the wall color. The effect is cozy and magical.

The perfect spot to curl up and read, criss-cross-applesauce style.

Rounding out our tour, the Master Bath, and the one and ONLY time you will see TLD encounter a glass block window and not destroy it.

Normally the bane of our existence, in this one particular instance, the gold joints were actually bringing some (good) visual interest to the party. The gold is echoed in the chandelier and plumbing fixtures. And this soaker tub is so much more inviting than it's 90's jetted predecessor.

Removing that garden tub allowed us to slightly enlarge the shower (and add a curb to keep it from leaking - that's always a win). The herringbone marble floors are a classic move for interest, with white vertical offset wall tile playing best supporting actress.

Renovation problems - sometimes when you don't have much wall space, where do you hang your towels? Well, these sleek minimal hooks mount to glass, solving that issue in the most aesthetic way.

On the opposite wall, we completely reimagined the entire vanity situation. The angled wall is still there, but it's camouflaged by the new full-height storage cabinets. Now space abounds for towels, products, more products, and those other products.

The white oak vanity keeps things warm in this otherwise white-toned bath. The large chunky cabinet rings are dual purpose - they also hold hand towels (again, with wall space at a premium!).

Thanks for coming on the tour of our latest project! If you have a home project on your mind, we'd love to hear from you to see if we're the right fit to bring it to life. Drop us a line and let's chat!

And thanks to our wonderful clients for letting us (and the drama) run wild on this one.