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A tale of two renovations: London Bay Renovation reenvisions Bay Colony and Miromar Lakes residences

Written by Kathy Gulvas | July 10, 2019

London Bay Homes has earned its reputation by building luxury homes in Southwest Florida’s most exclusive neighborhoods for nearly three decades.

And while homebuyer interest in custom building continues to grow, renovation is gaining in popularity among homeowners who prefer to modify their current home to fit their desires.

London Bay Renovation covers the spectrum of home-improvement services, from complete interior and exterior makeovers and room additions, to kitchen and bath renovations and architectural and design accents. The company’s commitment to “Private Label Living” ensures each project reflects the individual client and the home they envision.

“London Bay Renovation can help homeowners renovate their formerly just-right residences to fit their lifestyles today,” said Dan DiComo, Business Development Manager for London Bay Renovation.

The Guptas purchased their condo in the Carlysle in Bay Colony when it was first built to use as the perfect vacation retreat. Now, 25 years later, the Guptas were ready to make the 11th floor unit their primary residence.

“In the early 90’s, condos were designed with smaller rooms and lots of walls,” said DiComo. “They really didn’t take full advantage of the views.”

Together with the clients, they decided a complete renovation was in order to modernize it for full-time living.

“The entire unit was stripped down to stud walls,” said DiComo. “Today, it looks like it was just built brand new.”

The renovation called for all new ceilings, electrical, dry wall, plumbing, lighting and switching, along with new appliances, countertops and cabinetry.

DiComo explained they dropped the ceilings two inches to add modern LED lighting throughout the space. They removed the main wall that separated the kitchen and laundry from the living area, which blocked half the view from either place.

The result is a completely fresh, open space with a great room feel among common areas, and a new kitchen island designed as an ideal spot for congregating.

One of the renovation objectives was adding storage space. The team accomplished this goal by modifying a portion of the master suite. The former “his” and “hers” closets were combined into one updated space that actually offered more useable space, and the once “must have” spa tub was removed to make room for additional storage.

DiComo explained the team works quickly to complete condo renovations within a six-month, spring-to-summer window so the residence is available when homeowners return for season.

“The ‘Big Reveal’ is the best part,” he said. “We love our clients’ reaction when they return to see the completed vision.”

While considering a single-family home in Miromar Lakes, the Hellers asked London Bay Renovation to weigh in on the four-bedroom, five-bath residence that caught their attention. As a team, they concluded the home needed a complete interior redesign, coupled with some exterior modifications.

“We took a 20-year-old home that was quite dated and focused on a renovation to open up common spaces to the views outside,” said DiComo.

The project called for gutting the entire interior, save a few spaces like the master suite, a guest bedroom and the laundry room, and adding 500 square feet for a new guest suite. A new rectilinear design reclaimed the old design’s unused space.

“We squared things off to clean up the design, so there are not angles all over,” he said. “We were able to create a much more useable space that’s also a better set-up for furniture.”

To update the home’s dated heavy Tuscan exterior, the team removed some precast elements and lightened up the overall palette. Adding dark trim and Bermuda shutters helped transform the exterior into a clean, contemporary design.

In both projects, London Bay Renovation sought to eschew trends and create classic designs to meet their clients’ needs and desires.

“Our goal is to create a timeless design that will look great in another 20 years, and beyond,” said DiComo. “London Bay is renowned for good design, whether it’s a new home or a renovation.”

To schedule a visit and learn more about renovating with London Bay, call 239-298-7623 or visit LondonBay.com/Renovation.