209 Reading Road has had many interesting occupants over the years including: law firms, a funeral home, a bridal shop, and even a fortune teller- if only these walls could talk!
Throughout the years, this building underwent numerous renovations. Some unique characteristics included: black and white checkered kitchen flooring, pink, red, yellow, and blue paint colors throughout, crystal chandeliers, and shag carpeting.
A quick demo/gut job by our carpenters, careful to maintain the integrity of the building, gave our Selections Coordinator a blank slate to bring the space back to life- Creative style! The concept behind each of our selections was to introduce modern aesthetic touches and amenities by way of lighting and plumbing, to enhance the look and functionality of the space, all while maintaining it’s charm and character.
Working from the front of the building in, the charming and well-sized front porch offers a space for comfortable patio furniture that our team and various trade partners enjoy for a lunch break on nice days, or even a happy hour from time to time! Stepping inside to the front entry, you are greeted by the beauty of the original windows and a built-in bench seat. Recognizing that we wanted this to space to offer an open and welcoming feel, we kept selections classic and timeless by installing Calacatta Borgini Matte floor tile in a 12×24 size by Nasco Stone. To blend the classic with the modern, we installed a 39” matte black multi-arm semi flush mount light fixture by Golden Lighting that offers ample and inviting lighting, while providing visual interest.
Once passed the entry, you step into our team gathering space that holds an 8’ conference table for maximum productivity. After removing the existing carpet and tile, the original hardwood floors were reconditioned, sanded, and refinished. A stain color of Cocoa was chosen to provide a warm and rich look throughout. This color was also placed on the ceiling, between the newly added coffered beams created by our team of skilled carpenters – as if they were always there! Adding the floor color to the ceiling draws the eye up and ensures you don’t miss a single beautiful detail. The existing fireplace was given a facelift. First we removed the existing hearth tile, replacing it with a 12×24 Serendipity Destiny black tile and painting the existing brick surround in Black Magic, both chosen to tie in the black lighting fixtures placed throughout. Our carpenters further enhanced the look of the fireplace by adding craftsman style panels from floor to ceiling. The panels and new mantle were painted in Snowbound to match the trim, coffered ceiling, and doors throughout. Two Alora Lighting Seno 5 light 32” black chandeliers were hung above the conference table. adding additional interest and modern touches. To create a focal wall that was not only interesting but functional, Walnut slat wall acoustical panels were added to reduce the sound of footsteps and echoes within the space.
Our reception area, located off our main gathering room, holds a large custom desk shared by our Receptionist, Office Manager, and Accounting Department. The desk was created to coordinate with the light walnut wood tones of the slat wall, and the modern black elements seen throughout in the lighting fixture selections. High performance task lighting was a must for this space, therefore a 32” 9-light black semi-flush chandelier by Golden Lighting was chosen.
Heading down the hallway, you are lead to our office kitchenette. Semi-custom Poplar cabinetry by Aspect in a Portobello stain color was selected to offer a light, yet warm contrast to the rich Cocoa floor stain. A 36” Bosch fridge, dishwasher, and a Sharp microwave drawer were installed to ensure our team have all the modern amenities they need. A durable and beautiful Quartz countertop was chosen in the pattern of Brandenburg with a 3” mitered edge. The warm taupe tones subtly seen throughout the slab connect the counters to the cabinetry, while the grey background with white accents offers just the right amount of contrast. The 3” mitered edge further enhances and elevates the look. Trysta Belle Cornerstone in Knightsbridge, a striking marble tile, was selected for the backsplash. Extending from the counter to the ceiling, surrounding the window and floating shelves, this selection adds drama, interest, and a slight masculine touch. Our plumbing selections were chosen to lean toward the modern and industrial, and the Pfister Port Haven pull down faucet in Stainless was the perfect choice to connect the stainless appliances. A durable, scratch and stain resistant Blanco Silgranit sink in Truffle was selected to ensure a practical landing space for endless coffee mugs and happy hour glasses. The brushed nickel cabinetry hardware comes from Top Knobs, and the Clarence collection offered a perfect industrial style to complement the faucet selection.
Passing the Kitchen, the hallway leads to 3 individual offices. These offices are home to our Owner, Construction Manager, Design & Project Development Director, and Selections Coordinator. All received a fresh coat of paint, Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore, matching the paint color throughout the building. By minimizing the number of paint colors and using the same throughout, allows a disjointed floor plan to feel fluid and connected. An Orwell 19” 3-light flush mount lighting by Golden Lighting was installed in each office to offer a modern touch and enhanced task lighting.
A full bathroom in located at the end of the hallway. A floor tile in East Village Houston Warm Gray was selected to coordinate with the floating concrete-look 30” Evanna vanity by Pottery Barn. Nasco Stone FDM110 Matte in 12×24 wall tile was placed on the shower walls as well as on the surrounding walls up to 54” off the finished floor, thus adding wall protection to a high-traffic space plus providing contrast and warmth to the gray tones of the floor tile and vanity. We selected Brizo Litze plumbing fixtures in Chrome for our sink faucet and shower fixtures. The Litze collection offered a similar industrial feel that coordinated with the kitchen plumbing selections and the chrome finish offered additional elegance and brightness. A 41” tall chrome mirror was installed to enhance the ceiling heights and provide the feel of a larger space. A Hinkley Lighting Noah 3-light seedy glass fixture was placed over the vanity mirror, providing a unique layering affect and excellent lighting. The bathroom was painted in Revere Pewter for consistency and warmth compared to the cool tones of the vanity and floor tile. A beautiful low-iron glass shower enclosure finishes off the space, providing a crystal-clear view of the beautiful tile and plumbing selections.
To the rear of the building, composite decking material steps and a ramp were built to facilitate ADA compliancy with a black metal railing. A custom black metal awning was installed over the rear door. Finally, an 8” black John Timberland seedy glass coach light was installed to further enhance the craftsman style look of this building.
Our team meets and collaborates daily on new projects with unique designs and finishes for our homeowners. While finalizing the design details for our own renovation, we wanted to ensure it was a space that felt both comfortable and inspiring, a place where everyone would feel truly Creative. We are excited for the opportunities our new home presents and we look forward to planning and designing your project from inside these very walls!
