PhaseValue Memorial homeowners consider the remodeling bug a beneficial insect STORY BY MARY CHAVOUSTIE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIRO DVORSCAK ay the word “remodel” and watch most homeowners cringe. Not Robert and Ragna Case. They’ve remodeled their Memorial village home four times, five if you count adding the pool, with a sixth being considered as this issue goes to print. “I’m the kind of person that likes to work on their house,” admits Ragna. “Every 5 to 8 years, we do something,” she smiles, “so it’s about time for another change.” Over the years, the couple has seamlessly reconfigured their original 1600-square-foot ranch-style home into a 3500-square foot oasis, in the heart of one of Houston’s most lovely neighborhoods. Their décor is spare and uncluttered, a respite from weighty antiques and knick-knacks that often take away from the clean lines of an older home. “We bought the house from the original owners in 1983, while the children were in grade school,” Ragna explains. “We fell in love with the neighborhood, the schools and the ease of commute for both of our jobs.” The 1950s house was typical of the day, complete with indooroutdoor carpet, harvest gold appliances and knotty pine in the den and kitchen. The first major remodel came in 1984, a move to retain the overall shape of the kitchen but an upgrade for the cabinetry and appliances. Ragna chose white laminate and white appliances, a style she admits faded quickly into design history. Years later, FRAMEwork design LLC owners Joe Meppelink and Marisa Janusz helped the couple establish a three-phase major remodeling plan. Phase One included updating the living room and creating a study, guest room and powder room. Interior designer Laura Michaelides, ASID, owner of Four Square Design Studio LLC, joined Meppelink and Janusz on the second phase two years later, designing and furnishing the master bath and bedroom. Michaelides recently completed Phase Three – the kitchen, laundry room and new lighting for the living and dining rooms. “Laura worked with us on the remodeling of our master bedroom and bath and did a fabulous job so I thought of her immediately (for the kitchen remodel),” says Ragna.
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ROOM FOR COMPANY
During Phase One, architectural designers Meppelink and Janusz transformed the small, no-longer-used children’s rooms into a sunlit study and guest suite. The same limestone utilized in the extension of the living room was creatively incorporated into a portion of the guest bath. Tall mahogany pocket doors were added between the living room and the east wing, allowing for privacy, when needed. 54
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Designer Laura Michaelides worked closely with the homeowners during the kitchen remodel, accomplishing what Ragna Case calls a “soft contemporary� look—one that is welcoming to not only the chef, but equally to family and friends that gather. 55
Custom millwork, vaulted ceilings and stonework expanding the existing fireplace helped recreate the living room, a comfortable area to entertain and enjoy guests. The manicured backyard and pool offer a tranquil addition as viewed through the French doors and expansive windows. MASTERING THE MASTER SUITE
Aware of their clients’ propensity for books, Meppelink and Janusz created a floor-to-ceiling mahogany bookcase in the master suite, with ample room for a 60-inch TV. Michaelides designed custom night tables and also suggested a navy accent wall. Ragna acknowledges she was at first hesitant to use such a dark color, given the existing expanse of wood, yet trusted her designer and was more than pleased with the end results. A small sitting enclave was added, with solid garnet-colored chairs blends nicely with the patterned rug. The master bath is spacious and accommodating, complete with a built-in cushioned seating area that doubles as storage. Michaelides added a small glass-topped table to the space, a more forgiving resting place for morning coffee cups than the nearby white marble vanities. The bathroom flooring of light Crema Marfil marble has an Old World appeal, while a colorful framed mirror, a good example of the homeowner’s love of folk art, is set against a wood accent wall. The
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The deep blue tile back splash, found at La Nova Tile, mimics the expanses of blue tile around the pool and, therefore, visually connects the interior of the home to the appealing outdoor spaces. The clean lines of the kitchen give it a modern feel, while the rich mahogany cabinets lend a warmer, more traditional sensibility. 57
“Meppelink and Janusz had a clean line, which blended with my eclectic mix—not too modern, not too traditional,” says homeowner Ragna Case. 58
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Tile is used throughout the Case home, excluding the master bedroom. “I’m a big believer in tile,” says Ragna. “To me, it’s a lot easier to maintain than carpet and unifies everything.”
mirror is custom designed, comprised of tile that Ragna and Michaelides found at Architectural Design Resource. “Ragna has a great enjoyment of folk art and also enjoys living with furniture that she has inherited,” says Michaelides. “In working with her, I tried to create environments that would be true to her style and sensibilities, and that work well with the art and furniture that she has and enjoys.” NOW WE’RE COOKING
More room, more work space, more cabinets – it’s every homeowner’s wish and Ragna was no exception. In 2009, Michaelides implemented Phase Three, reconfiguring the kitchen area by removing walls that cut the space up into smaller, less useable areas, and designed the new kitchen, as well as the laundry room and breakfast area. The general contractor for this phase of the project was David Levy. At the time of construction, Levy constructed a false wall between the living room and the kitchen to alleviate construction dust and maintain some sense of day-to-day order for the family. Levy also brought in temporary plumbing, a sink, microwave and power for a refrigerator, making living in the house during the remodel much easier. Levy’s comprehensive remodel included demolition of the existing kitchen and adjacent walls, as well as the existing laundry room and
wall shared by the dining, living room and kitchen. He constructed new walls, rerouted plumbing and wiring to accommodate new appliances, and installed new lighting in the kitchen, laundry room and living room. Per Michaelides design, cabinetmaker Cal Trevino built custom mahogany kitchen cabinets. New floor and backsplash tile were installed, as well as new windows and doors. Choosing the right kitchen countertop, for both beauty and functionality, is often time-consuming. Ragna eliminated marble because of its care requirements. Granite was a possibility – something to play off the white floor tile and dark wood cabinetry – yet finding a not-so-busy match became difficult. She finally settled on a Caesarstone Quartz, adding a striking, dark blue backsplash tile – for just the right pop of color and tie to the rest of the home. Michaelides designed a small peninsula-type table for the breakfast area, a practical solution for the empty nesters. The U-shaped table was anchored to the window wall, and then supported with a mahogany tapered leg. Craftsman James Dawson wrapped the wood substrate top with zinc for a clean, modern contribution to the décor. Now complete, the wide, island-free kitchen has become one of the most well-loved rooms in the house as children and grandchildren gather each week for Sunday dinner. “I’ve done lots of remodels, and I have to say it was one of the most pleasant I’ve been through,” acknowledges Ragna.
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Ragna’s spacious study invites dutiful work, yet the French door view of the backyard pool is always tempting.
REFINED DINING
The dining room is a favorite of Ragna’s. It is home to her display of delicate antique plates and bowls. Years ago, finding traditional plate hangers insufficient, she decided to enlist help for her own innovative idea. Working with a fabricator, she designed a transparent, fiberglass holder that blends inconspicuously with the wall, yet securely holds each piece without damaging their gold leaf accents. A lovely wooden shelf, another design by Michaelides, underscores the display, doubling as a practical serving area for dinner parties and an artistic focal point for the room. Dining room chairs incorporate a geometric design, playing off the pickled wood floor and linear slats of the shuttered windows. 60
Intertwining steel branches combine with what resembles crystal water drops – striking components of the chandelier. “Ragna and Robert are wonderful clients,” says Michaelides, “and I enjoyed working immensely with them, for both phases of the project. I tried to create environments that would be true to her style and sensibilities, and that would work well with the art and furniture that they have and enjoy.” So what’s the next remodel for the Case family? Only time will tell.
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The master bath addition provides plenty of space, complete with a window seat that offers bonus storage. Crema Marfil marble floor tiles yield a classic look. 61
RESOURCES DESIGNERS Joe Meppelink and Marisa Janusz FRAMEwork design LLC 713.426.3640 www.framework-ad.net INTERIOR DESIGN Laura Michaelides, ASID Four Square Design Studio LLC 713.802.1699 www.foursquaredesignstudio.com GENERAL CONTRACTORS David Levy – Phase Three DRLCO, Inc. 281.850.8092 KITCHEN Kitchen Appliances include Viking Range and Refrigerator, Zephyr Range Hood, Electrolux Dishwasher, Kenmore Washer and Dryer
Kitchen Backsplash Tile Trend Karma glass tile #916 from La Nova Tile www.lanovatile.com Kitchen Countertop Caesarstone Quartz
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BREAKFAST AREA Zinc Peninsula-style Breakfast Table Design by Laura Michaelides, ASID, Crafted by James Dawson and Cal Trevino
A focal point of the generous master bath is a folk art-insipred mirror made with tile that Ragna and Michaelides found at Architectural Design Resource.
MASTER BEDROOM and MASTER SITTING AREA Wool sisal carpet (Godfrey Hirst #510 Wool Creations “Sandstone”) from ProSource Flooring www.prosourcefloors.com
Kravet garnet red upholstered chairs from the Decorative Center www.decorativecenter.com Multi-colored tribal rug sourced from Pride of Persia www.priceofpersia.com MASTER BATH Small round table from Area
Tile for custom design mirror from Architectural Design Resource www.adrhouston.com Floor tile (1” X 2” tumbled Crema Marfil marble) from La Nova Tile www.lanovatile.com
The living room extension allowed for a limestone privacy wall in the guest bath, which also utilizes the homeowner’s signature blue tile.
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Ragna was pleased with Michaelides’ choice of the navy accent wall in the master bedroom, which anchors both the bed and the sitting area. The patterned rug helps tie together the bold colors of the two garnet-hued chairs and the deep blues of the walls and bed linens.
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