Houzz Tour: Schoolhouse-Turned-Home in Chicago

Imagine turning a schoolhouse that's more than a century old into a modern-industrial home — exactly what principal architect Jeff Goulette and general contractors Chris and Roc Roney had to do when their clients approached them to renovate their house, in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago. Goulette's clients had a specific vision in mind: They wanted a house with a modern interior that blended with the old building and had many green features. And they wanted to stay within a modest budget.

"Any other purchaser of this property probably would've torn down the existing structure. But our clients were adamant about teaching their five kids the benefits of environmental responsibility and working with what they had — beginning with the way they lived in their home," says Goulette. The result is an innovative and sustainable space filled with colorful and functional details.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their five kids
Location: Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago
Size: 8,500 square feet; 6 bedrooms, 2.5 baths
That's interesting: A mill shop was set up onsite to expedite the repurposing of wood beams, planks, columns and floor joists.

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Round Out Your Home and Garden With Spheres (8 photos)

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Renovation Detail: Beadboard Wainscoting

When we bought our historic house, I wanted to transform it into a world of wainscoting. So it was important for me to research the subject, to understand its characteristics and architectural history. In a nutshell, wainscoting was designed hundreds of years ago in a marriage of form and function to enhance the look of a room while protecting the bottom half of the walls from dirt and damage. Throughout the years, wainscoting has evolved to suit different architectural styles and design elements. Today board and batten, frame and panel, and beadboard have evolved as the most prevalent designs, with beadboard providing the most bang for your buck.

Beadboard wainscoting is either installed as tongue and groove boards or as tongue and groove sheets, the latter being the more cost-effective option. Consisting of a baseboard, the beadboard and a cap (whether it be a chair rail, a plate rail or a picture rail), beadboard wainscoting is really a quite simple system. In fact, it's self-explanatory name comes from the round bead along its edge that disguises the joint between strips.

Hundreds of years since its conception, wainscoting is still used to dress up areas that get a lot of wear and tear. I'm especially fond of beadboard wainscoting in bathrooms!

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My Houzz: Designer's Eclectic Pink California Adobe

Neva Williams desperately wanted to peek over and see what was hidden behind this home's imposing wall. After repeatedly passing by, she finally had her chance when an open-house sign appeared out front. Although Williams, a builder and designer, wasn't in the market for a new home at the time, the beautiful adobe house grabbed her. She walked in and said to herself, "This is it — this is my house." While still holding true to the original California adobe design, Williams has added her own personal twists to create a home reflecting her timeless yet eclectic style.

Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Neva Williams
Location: Ojai, California
Size: 3,300 square feet; 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
That's interesting: Almost all of the art in the home is by local artists.

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Modernize Your Old Kitchen Without Remodeling

If you purchased an older home, you probably did so because of its charm, history and perhaps its location in a neighborhood lined with huge old trees. As the owner of a 1940s Tudor, I love my home for all those reasons ... and just put up with the fact that our "master" bathroom is so small, you have to stand with half of your body outside the door to brush your teeth. If you have an older home, you might be able to relate.

Unfortunately, older homes also have kitchens that were made for another generation. Sometimes I visit friends' newer homes that have sprawling granite islands, double ovens and eight-burner ranges — it's hard not to get just a tad jealous of these luxuries. My little kitchen has been around more than 70 years and just can't compete with some of the modern conveniences of a new home.

I would never trade my home for a newer model, but there are still plenty of ways to improve the functionality and look of an older kitchen without gutting the entire space.

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