5 of the Most Impressive Makeovers We Saw This Year

A Drab Bathroom Transforms Into an Artful Retreat

Courtney McLeod is unafraid to play with color in her designs, and her art deco take on this bathroom renovation is far from shy. She gave the failing interior a complete remodel with the addition of luxe finishes and a custom mosaic feature wall.

“The space required a complete gut renovation, allowing us to reimagine the bath from scratch, and included a dramatic marble mosaic feature for the vanity wall that had to be a perfect fit," McLeod said. "There was no room for error."

The final product is an imaginative, artful space that is unafraid to play with texture and color—and we're obsessed with the snake-print window shade.

A Dark and Dated Kitchen Becomes a Retro Dream

Tiffany Mansfield and Lisa O’Neil of Mansfield + O'Neil had the challenge of renovating this 1930s kitchen without compromising the historical integrity of the home's original features, like the original crown molding and doors. But the pair completely opened up the space, turned the former breakfast nook into a sunroom filled with natural light, and updated the design to be bright and playful.

"We incorporated both timeless and modern kitchen materials, including wood, steel, concrete, ceramic and stone and used teal blue, soft green, and creamy hues to give the space a lighter feel," O'Neil said.

A Tired Living Room Now Feels Country Cool

We are definitely taking notes from this renovation by Amber Lewis, who turned this worn-down Connecticut living room into a space that is equally relaxing and chic. “My goal was to marry upscale farmhouse style with a cool country vibe, creating a traditional-yet-cozy aesthetic for this family with four small children," Lewis said.

In the renovation, Lewis removed the paneling from the walls, re-stained the floors, and filled the room with a mix of vintage and modern pieces for the perfect blend of old and new. The living room is now bright and inviting—and we're crushing hard on those brown leather chairs.

An Old Barn Is Now a Modern Office

A dedicated space for a home office became of utmost importance this past year, and Alessandra Wood gave her client just that—on their property's old, unused barn. With six employees working out of the client's home, Wood knew the team needed a large, designated working space, and decided the storage barn would be just the spot.

"Our goal was to create an atmosphere that was professional, yet warm and inviting," Wood said. “There’s a conference room and a lounge area where team members gather for meetings on the lower level, while the upper floor houses individual offices."

The high-contrast black-and-white color scheme works perfectly for a productive office, and the ample room gives the team the space they need.

A Dreary Living Room Transforms Into the Perfect Dining Spot

Amalia Graziani was challenged with transforming this drab, mid-century beach cottage into a fresh and welcome retreat. Because there is no need for a formal sitting room in a beach home, Graziani turned this space into the perfect dining spot.

"We opted to transform the existing living room into a warm and welcoming dining space," Graziani notes. "The general proportions of the room were good, but beyond that, everything had to go. Among the less-than-ideal design elements were heavy drapes, a single sliding door, wall-to-wall carpets, and low ceilings."

The end result is a space filled with warmth and light utilizing neutral and organic materials, linen dining chairs, and new oak flooring.