West + Main Agent Jen Hutto
When West + Main agent Jen Hutto's family decided to move to Vail, they were initially planning to rent due to the lack of options in their price range. However, fate had something else in store for them when Jen stumbled upon a townhome that had been sitting on the market for over 90 days. Intrigued, she wondered what could possibly be wrong with it. Little did she know, this would be the beginning of an enormous undertaking that would result in a stunning mountain modern home and would appeal to everyone for resale value.
The location of the townhome was undeniably amazing, with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains. However, Jen soon realized that the project would not be easy. "The difficulty of the project was definitely up there," Jen explained. "We needed a lot of help determining what was load bearing and what wasn't so we could remove some cabinets and walls to open up the space."
For the design process, Jen had a clear vision in mind. "I knew I wanted mountain modern, more on the modern side," she said. "I had done more modern farmhouse style in the past, but I knew that wouldn't work up in the mountains. I wanted to do something that would appeal to everyone for resale value." She opted for a monochromatic color scheme, mostly black and white with wood tones and metal accents, to create a sleek and contemporary look.
Despite the challenges, progress was relatively fast in most areas of the renovation. Flooring took just a few days, bathrooms were completed in a week, and even the kitchen installation was swift. However, the biggest hurdle came with the stairs.
“Those were a massive undertaking, and all the steel was welded on site, so it took several months and was definitely messy,” Jen recalled. “But it turned the old eyesore into a huge statement piece of the house.
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The budget for the project started around $100-150k, but it quickly exceeded expectations. "The most expensive items were the flooring, bathrooms, and the stairs," Jen said. "Those items amounted to over half of the total cost. Paint was also a big item, as we had to paint the entire house, including all the ceilings. Our paint color, Sherman Williams Pure White, really helped bring in tons of light to the space."
Despite the challenges and increased budget, Jen's favorite part of the project is the living room. "The white oak floors and the white wood ceiling, along with the dark metal look fireplace, really help create a calming environment where you can hang out and enjoy the gorgeous ski slope views," she said.
In the end, Jen's hard work and determination paid off, and the townhome was transformed into a stunning mountain modern masterpiece. It just goes to show that with the right vision, a little creativity, and some perseverance, even a challenging renovation project can result in a breathtaking home that exceeds all expectations. Jen's family now has a beautiful place to call home in Vail, and her success as a West + Main agent continues to shine.
Related Links
As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: What’s Old is New Again
As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Paving the Way for Outdoor Bliss
As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: From Dream to Reality
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