Older Mokena home gets supersized a la Distinctive Remodelers

Mari-beth treasured her Mokena two-story, which she and her husband had called home for the last 15 years. But when it came to entertaining family and friends, they felt that their house could use some extra elbow room.

“We’ve lived in our home for 15 years, and it has served us pretty well,” said Mari-beth, a mother of four children. “But with our large family and wide circle of friends we often invite over, we thought our house could use some additional square footage. We also yearned to open up our home more to the backyard by creating extra outdoor living space.”

A project of this scope and complexity called for more than a heavy duty handyman. Instead, the family recruited Orland Park-based Distinctive Remodelers—experts at room additions and major remodelings.

“The family wanted to remake their entire kitchen from scratch and increase its size by 75 percent, as well as build out an extra-large second family room and adjacent four seasons room,” said Bryan Nooner, chairman of Distinctive Remodelers. “What’s more, they desired an expanded basement space directly below the family room addition. Their plans were quite ambitious. But the finished project was going to completely reinvent this residence, making it a more voluminous and comfortable home.”

In the kitchen, Nooner’s crew gutted the interior down to the bare studs, rafters and floor joists. They installed handsome cherry hardwood floors, cherry wood and off-white painted custom cabinetry and exotic-hued granite countertops speckled with blacks, grays and reds. An angled island was strategically positioned in the middle of the room, and stylish lighting fixtures were mounted—including colorful pendants over the breakfast bar and can lights across the ceiling. Brand new stainless steel GE appliances were implemented, as were under-cabinet accessory appliances such as a microwave drawer, a pair of refrigerator drawers, and a two-level dish drawer to complement the dishwasher.

“The goal was to help make food preparation and cleanup less messy and provide easier access by placing many of these appliances at or below counter level,” said Mari-beth, who values her re-imagined kitchen above all other living spaces in her home.

“We also spent a lot of time and attention on fine details, like fluted ends on the cabinet corners, custom-made wood ornamental brackets, corner posts, and plenty of pullout areas for storage of spices and cookware,” Nooner said. “Several cabinet doors even showcase intricate glass panels, the cutout patterns for which were made by Mari-beth herself.”

In addition, Distinctive Remodelers created an eye-catching, gas-fueled stone fireplace in the kitchen, topped with an intricate cherry wood mantle and enhanced by a curved, step-down floor area for comfortable seating and relaxing in front of the fire. Among the other kitchen highlights are a custom mantle and hood, a decorative tile mural backsplash, a pot filler just above the stovetop, and ornate columns on either side of the wide portal leading to the new family room next door.

“We already had a moderately sized family room on the other side of the kitchen, but we dreamed of a larger space that could better accommodate our guests during parties and get-togethers,” Mari-beth said. “This new family room was to become the main focal point of the entire home.”

Nooner and his team constructed a 30 x 30-foot addition with a tiered ceiling ranging from 10- to 25-feet high. Ten-foot-high floor-to-ceiling glass doors were positioned across the length of the entire back wall, and archtop windows were placed on two other walls. Extensive crown moulding and decorative ceiling columns were installed. The floors, meanwhile, benefited from a combination of cherry wood, maple inlays and carpeting. Concealed in the ceiling was a 52-inch plasma TV that quickly descends at the push of a button for on-demand viewing. Completing the room are a curved leather sectional and a pair of oversized chairs.

“The room’s theme is a tropical paradise, a very South Florida look that is meant to make you feel like you’re on vacation,” said Nooner. “The extensive glass, which provides ample sunshine and looks out onto the nicely landscaped back yard, helps accomplish this feel. But the crowning touch that completes the theme is the transition the family room makes into the adjoining four seasons room.”

This space, better referred to as a “Lanai” by Mari-beth (named after the sixth largest Hawaiian island), is surrounded on all four sides by exquisite glass doors which can be pulled back to soak in the glory of Mother Nature in the warmer months (while occupants are protected by a screened enclosure). The room is equipped with large tropical fans as well as zoned heating and air conditioning. A perfect spot for kicking back with an evening glass of wine or a morning cup of Java without worrying about the bugs or the elements, the Lanai adds a bright and fresh ambience to the rear of the home.

Just beyond the family room addition, Nooner’s team completely revamped the back yard. For starters, they removed the old swimming pool and built a new, larger, in-ground replacement that spans parallel to the back of the home, offering an enhanced poolside view from the family room. The old pool deck was replaced with a brick paver patio area, retaining walls, and a firepit served by seat walls. Numerous tropical plants and colorful foliage were also peppered across the yard to create a lush, calming environment.

Downstairs, Distinctive Remodelers essentially doubled the size of the family’s basement by building out a 12-foot-high extra space underneath the family room addition that opened up to the existing eight-foot-high basement, which was gutted. Originally housing a spare bedroom, fitness zone, sauna and entertainment area, the lower level now boasts a bevy of modern amenities.

For example, Nooner’s crew fashioned a dedicated home theater space served by a digital projector and 130-inch screen, wide leather sectional, and high-top table-seats in back for extra seating. Next door is a game room decked out with a pool table, Wii game system, two flatscreen TVs, and a wet bar equipped with a custom bar top, sink, microwave, dishwasher, refrigerator, wine cooler and bar stools. An elegant spiral staircase was chosen to lead from the new family room to the lower level.

“Our new and improved basement is like an extra home within a home—the perfect recreation area in which to view a movie, enjoy the ballgame and a beer, shoot a game of pool, or share a cocktail with friends,” said Mari-beth, whose husband considers the lower level his favorite new space.

Working with Distinctive Remodelers “was a huge benefit,” noted Mari-beth. “Their team is so talented, and they know how to design. It really takes a skilled design team to pull off a project of this nature. It’s nice to know that you can rely on experts who can help you choose the right colors, finishes and materials that blend well together. And their high level of craftsmanship and focus on the finer details speaks for itself. We couldn’t be happier with the finished product.”

Distinctive Remodelers specializes in a wide assortment of renovation projects, from room build-outs, second-level additions, and home theater room installations to basement finishing, kitchen makeovers, and roofing, siding and window replacements — with no residential job too large for the firm to tackle. Additionally, all work is backed by a full warranty.

“We draw on the built-in advantages of being a part of Distinctive Companies — a successful, established area business with over 20 years of collective experience,” Nooner said.

Nooner helped launch Distinctive Remodelers based in large part on growing demand from past home buyer clients eager to upgrade and expand their existing residences.

“We have a large base of loyal, satisfied customers from over the years who often call us for future projects,” said Nooner. “We know these homeowners and what they’re looking for, and we’re familiar with the territory we cover. We would often get calls from many of these past home buyers who sought to hire us for jobs such as adding a room, finishing a basement or rethinking a kitchen. Instead of turning down these requests, we initiated Distinctive Remodelers, which offers partial or whole-house renovation services throughout the suburbs.”

In addition to having a highly skilled crew in place, the firm has an unparalleled reputation for outstanding quality and value. Plus, Distinctive Companies has a 3,000-square-foot, full-service design studio, making it simple and convenient for remodeling customers to choose their exterior and interior product, finish and material selections. From cabinet pulls and plumbing fixtures to flooring options, door handles, appliances and trim packages, everything is there under one roof. Homeowners can browse through plentiful wall and floor displays, samples and swatches/

Distinctive Remodelers also relies on the parent company’s skilled architectural design team and its computer-aided design (CAD) resources to ensure that the conceptualizing and planning of every home project goes smoothly and efficiently.

“When you enlist our services, you can rely on experienced, courteous professionals. Everyone on our crew has been carefully screened, and they will treat you and your property with the utmost respect,” said Nooner. “And you can count on punctual responses to your questions and requests.”

Moreover, he added, “you can rest assured that you’ll receive the highest level of customer service from a project manager specifically assigned to your home who will supervise your job from start to finish.”

To make an appointment for a free estimate, contact Distinctive Remodelers at (708) 479-7700. For more information, visit www.DistinctiveRemodelers.com.

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