Stylish Living - The Fix is In

Don't be fooled by the traditional exterior: Renovations to this Grey Oaks home has it looking new and modern.

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Stately or elegant?

Which word would you choose to describe this 5,851-square-foot under-air (8,791 total) Grey Oaks residence? The four-bedroom (plus den), six-bathroom beauty is a wonderful representation of what many of us in Southwest Florida are currently debating: a remodel.

Surprisingly enough, this home was built in 1995. But thanks to a wonderful renovation, it not only looks new but also feels new, without losing the traditional character the home’s exterior implies.

“We love the brick outside, but then, when you walk in, it’s so modern,” says Theresa McWilliams, who owns the home with her husband, Larry. “But not too modern. What’s in style right now is very minimalist, and that’s not our taste. So we love that it has a traditional touch to it but inside it’s updated and modern.”

Of course, some things didn’t need improving, such as the gorgeous lake and golf course views and the landscaping. In fact, the McWilliamses struggle to find a window they don't love to look out of.

For everything else, a little redesigning made major impact. For example, vaulted ceilings, which were all the rage in the ’80s and ’90s, were modified to make the home feel like a new build. The family room, great room and kitchen all saw major improvement from the new ceiling designs, which didn’t require structural modifications, says builder Michael Diamond of Diamond Custom Homes, who handled the renovation. The changes that were made all delivered major bang for the buck.

With that said, there weren’t major changes to the home’s floor plan. But changes were made to the home’s kitchen, bathrooms and even the dining room. Originally, there was a wet bar off the dining room, but it was modified into a glass-enclosed wine room with refrigeration. Wood flooring replaced the tile, and the pool area and pool cage were redone.

“The kitchen immediately transformed the home,” Diamond says. “The flooring transformed the home. The paintwork, the ceiling design. We upgraded the fireplace design in the living room. … But the kitchen and master bath were the signature changes.”

And, in order to bring the home up to code, some new windows were installed, garage doors were replaced, and the front door was replaced. Hurricane screens were installed as well. They even installed a new roof.

And while it’s easy to see just how gorgeous the interior spaces are, with classic lines and sophisticated tones thanks to the design talents of Pacifica Interior Design, the McWilliamses spend much of their time on the lanai.

“I think we eat lunch out there every day,” Terry says. “And we love the brick planter boxes, which nobody does anymore. They’re gorgeous. And you have all these blooming flowers. It’s a homey house. It feels like home.”

Overall, the renovation created a home with brighter tones and more elegant, cleaner lines.

The finished product you see here is a testament to what can be created by a quality renovation.

“Everybody who walks in the house, from the vendors to friends and visitors, is always so surprised when they walk in,” Terry says. “They’re expecting it to be a dated old house and then they’re like, ‘Whoa!’”

INTERIOR DESIGNER: Pacifica Interior Design

BUILDER: Diamond Custom Homes