The Vision:
This 1957 ranch remodel in Ann Arbor’s Lawton neighborhood is a transformation designed for a growing, active family. Our design-build team is focused on elevating the home’s daily functionality through a comprehensive interior renovation. Upstairs, we are remodeling two bathrooms, featuring a modern zero-entry shower conversion that blends high-end style with seamless accessibility. Below, we are reclaiming a storage-heavy basement to create the ultimate multi-generational finished lower level. Complete with a bespoke dry bar, this reimagined space serves as both a kid-friendly zone and a sophisticated spot for entertaining guests of all ages. We invite you to follow our Current Work Updates as we cross each major construction milestone on the way to a gorgeous finish.

The Scope:
• Ann Arbor Ranch Remodel: Full renovation of two main-level bathrooms.
• Universal Design: Conversion of a standard tub/shower into a curbless zero-entry shower.
• Basement Finishing: Transforming storage space into a finished lower level for family hangouts.
• Custom Craftsmanship: Installation of a custom dry bar and dedicated entertainment area.

We invite you to follow along with our Current Work Updates as we cross each major construction milestone on the way to a gorgeous finish.

Pre-Construction Phase - The Vision at a Glance

We treat each of our projects with meticulous care, starting with site protection. Before a single tile was pulled, we installed comprehensive floor runners and HEPA-filtered dust partitions to ensure the rest of the home remains a livable sanctuary for the family.

Demolition Phase - The Clean Slate

Demolition is officially underway, and we have successfully transitioned the "Yellow Bathroom" from its 1950s origins to a clean, structural slate. This phase is about more than just removal; it’s about discovering the home's "shared legacy" and ensuring the original 1957 framing is ready to support a modern, zero-entry shower and a fully reimagined basement. 

One yellow bathroom gone. On to the pink one…

Framing & Rough Ins Phase: Reimagining the Interior Footprint

This phase is all about defining the architectural volume of the new spaces. By stripping the home back to its "skeleton," we can install the modern infrastructure (rough-ins) necessary while respecting the original integrity of the structure.

In the hall bathroom, the space has been cleared to the studs, allowing for a complete reimagining of the layout. Looking through the wall framing, you can see the new copper supply lines and shower valves securely in place for the hall bath.

In the basement, the focus is on creating new living space by transforming an open area into a structured environment. Once Nick is done removing the old materials to make room for the new floor plan, framing is now in progress. These new walls define the future rooms and hallways, turning an open basement into a functional part of the home's footprint.

Framing Update

The interior footprint of this 1957 ranch is now fully defined as we wrap up the framing phase and begin securing the home’s thermal envelope. By completing the basement wall structures and installing high-performance insulation, we have officially transitioned the lower level from a storage area into a comfortable, framed living space ready for finishes.

Precision framing this month has paved the way for the home’s new focal points, including the dedicated architectural footprint for the upcoming basement dry bar. To ensure long-term comfort in these reclaimed spaces, we’ve utilized a combination of professional spray foam in the upstairs bathrooms and specialized basement insulation. This "hidden excellence" detail ensures that the Lawton family will enjoy a moisture-protected, energy-efficient environment long after the drywall and artisan tiles are installed.

Framed-out basement walls showing the new room divisions and the future entertainment zone.

Bathroom spray foam insulation has been installed and is ready for drywall.
Insulation is being installed in the new basement to provide a more comfortable space.

Rough-Ins Update: Peace of Mind

With the architectural skeleton of the 1957 ranch firmly in place, we have moved into the rough-in phase—the critical stage where the home’s "hidden structures" are installed to ensure modern performance and long-term peace of mind. During this phase, our focus is on the precision installation of the home's essential mechanical systems. In the upstairs bathrooms, new copper supply lines and shower valves are now securely positioned within the wall framing, specifically designed to support the sophisticated new layouts and the seamless functionality of the zero-entry shower. Simultaneously, work continues in the lower level to integrate modern plumbing and HVAC infrastructure into the reclaimed basement footprint. These updates are the vital internal components that will provide the Lawton family with high-end reliability and comfort long after the luxury finishes are applied.

Drywall & Priming: The Definition of Space

We have officially transitioned from structural assembly to the definition of space as we enter the drywall and priming phase. This stage marks the moment our design-build vision begins to take its true physical form, as the open framing is enclosed to create the distinct rooms of the Lawton project. In the basement, we are actively shaping the dedicated area for the new custom dry bar, establishing the architectural boundaries of this future entertainment zone. Simultaneously, the upstairs hall bathroom has been enclosed in drywall, creating a crisp, clean surface that serves as the final preparation for the artisan tile work currently on the way. Seeing these spaces shift from raw studs to smooth, primed surfaces provides a tangible sense of the home’s final scale and flow.

Space is being created for a dry bar in the basement. The hall bath is being drywalled, tile on the way!

Tile & Cabinetry Phase: Bespoke Craftsmanship

The transformation is now entering its most detailed phase as we begin the installation of custom cabinetry and artisan tile. This stage is where craftsmanship takes center stage, moving the project from a defined structure into a finished home. In the upstairs bathrooms, the focus shifts to meticulous tile work that will define the aesthetic of the new zero-entry shower and hall bath. Meanwhile, in the lower level, the architectural footprint we established for the dry bar is being realized through the installation of custom-built elements designed for both kid-friendly utility and premier entertaining. These high-end finishes represent the "heart" of the remodel, where our design-build vision and the family's personal style finally converge.

Next up will be Trim & Hardware.

Trim, Hardware & Doors: The Ornamental Details

Our team is focused on the installation of full-wall paneling and refined trim that adds depth and character to the newly defined spaces. This stage is about the "ornamental details" and the precision of the hardware.