What a difference a remodel makes!
Marilyn Smith Heaney – Guest Blogger
Walking through this ski in – ski out property for the first time with my new clients immediately took me back in time to several years ago. Several years ago…when interiors had dark millwork, a lot of heavy faux wall finishes and busy patterned wallpapers.
After understanding that my clients did not care for the dated dark, heavy interior, I asked them what their vision might be for their mountain home. They both expressed the same two descriptive words…LIGHT & WARM. What great fun this was going to be, because this home was anything but light and warm in feeling; however, the potential was great.
The original kitchen had deep green, almost black granite countertops, dark stained cabinets that stopped short of the crown molding, side panels on the double ovens and refrigerator that closed the kitchen in, and the kitchen sink island had a lover countertop and a higher bar. Everything was squared off or at an angle.
In keeping with the “light and warm” design direction, and since I wanted the top of the cabinets to end with the crown that continued around the entire living space, the color was extremely important to the entire remodel project. All of the original millwork had a dark wood stain with a black glaze over it, even the wood floors. Taking the cabinets up to the crown gave a better sense of height in the lower ceiling kitchen area. The ceiling fan directly over the sink was removed and additional lighting was added. To not only recycle, but to keep costs down, instead of replacing all of the dark millwork, the heavily distressed millwork was partially filled, painted and lightly glazed, and the maple floor was stripped and lightly stained. The kitchen sink island was taken down to the countertop level for a more open feeling throughout the living area. Both light granite island countertops have soft curved ends. Using the light granite countertops and pillowed ivory marble on the backsplash continued our light and warm design.
As you can see, a similar color scheme was chosen for the master bath and guest bath areas, along with the soft rounded shapes of the master bath vanity, and textured wallpapers. 
It’s great that styles change…I love remodels! There are so many beautiful options out there to choose!!