REJUVENATED RETREAT

REJEUVENATED RETREAT

DESIGNER: TED MAINES, TED MAINES INTERIORS

BUILDER: GREG HARDWICK, HARDWICK GENERAL CONTRACTING

PHOTOGRAPHY: UNEEK

“In the family room there was a heavy built-in with a late ’90s look to it. We’re not big TV people so the navy wall was a good way to camouflage it,” Erin says. The vaulted tongue-andgroove ceiling was existing, but the beam was added. As for Ted’s recognizable touch? It’s the USM console under the TV.

Right: The foyer features new flooring and front doors. As a local Realtor, Erin Freeman knew her home was in a wonderful Winter Park location and moving, especially with current low inventories, was not an option. Yet the existing house just did not fit her active family — husband, Steve, and three sons. Luckily, she was already well-acquainted with designer Ted Maines. Although her style is on the traditional side, and he is known for his more contemporary aesthetic, they came together to combine their styles and the result is both casual and sophisticated.

The dark blue dining room with detailed walls was formerly the formal living room. To the right is a fireplace and on the left wall is a large smoked mirror. The custom artwork was not yet installed at the time of photography.

Erin and Steve are friends of ours and they reached out to me when they were deciding if they should move or remodel. The simple truth was that although their home could use some updating, it had great bones, and it was on a beautiful, oversized lot in one of the most desirable areas of Winter

Park. They are both savvy businesspeople, and they recognized that it made sense to renovate. I was thrilled to be a part of the process because they are amazing people and the house had enormous potential,” Ted explains.

The project focused mainly on the public spaces and the outdoor areas as the

Freemans had recently renovated the primary bedroom suite, and the children’s rooms and guest house weren’t in bad shape. “Actually, none of the house was in bad shape — most people, including myself, never really thought that this house was in dire need of a renovation. But, they wanted it to be more functional, with better use of the spaces for their active family. We ended up doing a gut renovation on the foyer, home office, dining room, living room, bar, powder room, kitchen, breakfast room and family room. And the entire outside, including the complete exterior of the home. So, it was a hybrid, but a major renovation,” he continues.

The overall feel of the new space is comfortably elegant with a hint or two of modern farmhouse and a definite nod to the colors of Nantucket, where the Freemans have owned a home for 13 years. “It

“has a Hamptons/Nantucket vibe, with a bit of city mixed in. It reminds me of the really beautiful homes in the films Nancy Meyers used to make. It’s a house that you want to move into with just your personal belongings,” Ted says.

“We bought this house in 2012 after we had looked all over Winter Park. But this one had a big lot and a great location. You just can’t find something like this in Winter Park without spending a fortune. So, we

Working from home got much more pleasant with the lighter and brighter office.

The breakfast area features blue prominently in a coastal style. “My contribution was turning the pantry into a breakfast bar so the kids can make a mess in there and I can just close the doors.” Erin explains.

decided to just update here. I met Ted when we first moved here and thought his design aesthetic was a little too modern for my taste — I think a lot of people think that. But he was able to do a modern interpretation of the traditional look. I love it,” Erin adds.

Both of them agree that the kitchen is the star of the home now. As an avid cook and entertainer, Erin knew she wanted a beautifully functional area that would serve family and friends. “She wanted a big kitchen with lots of workspace and storage and now she has my dream kitchen, and every time I see it, I get jealous. It has incredible storage, workspaces, and an oversized galley sink that is every chef’s

“In the kitchen we previously had a 10-foot island and now this one is almost 20 feet. It’s great because everyone hangs out here. We didn’t do any upper cabinets, which was weird at first. But I ended up with plenty of storage space,” Erin says. “The kitchen rocks! No matter how big or small your house is, the kitchen is the heart of the home,” Ted adds

dream. We turned the pantry into a functional mini-kitchen, where the kids can prepare their breakfast, Erin can make coffee, and Steve can make tea — he is British after all,” Ted says.

Everyone is pleased with the outcome although there were a few challenges including the pandemic. “Once we got started, things got crazy, and we didn’t know what would happen. The team at Hardwick General Contracting never skipped a beat. I can’t say enough good things about them. Both Erin and Steve were completely understanding, never lost their cool, and showed concern for everyone involved in the project. I’ve always valued Erin and Steve as friends, but I have so much respect for the way they handled the adverse conditions we all worked through,” Ted explains.

“All of the agreed upon deadlines were met. The budget went over, but that was due to our choices. We loved working with both Ted and Greg, and are making plans for part two which will encompass the upstairs,” Erin adds.

Clockwise, from top left: The built-in bar located between the kitchen and lounge is very functional for adult gatherings.

The exterior got as much attention as the interior with new windows and doors. In the back there is plenty of space for poolside entertaining.

For the updated powder bath, walls received a Ted-signature application of wallpaper.