Articles by Jeannie Matteucci

After raising their kids in their Plano, Texas, home for three decades, this empty-nest couple were ready to give their dark-and-dated kitchen a major makeover. The couple, who love to entertain extended family and grandkids, worked with design-build …

Placing pendants over a kitchen island or peninsula is an effective way to add task and ambient lighting. Plus, there’s a reason designers refer to lighting as the jewelry of a space. Pendants can introduce a stylish finish that complements or contra…

After working with designer Seashal Belldina on their primary bedroom a few years ago, this couple reached out to her for help in updating their generic white-and-beige kitchen, with the goals of improved function and a timeless, old-world style. Bell…

This older adult wanted to update his decades-old en suite bathroom to help with aging in place and deliver a wow factor. He tapped designer Molly Littlejohn and Kraft Custom Construction to spearhead the makeover. The remodeling team ditched a little…

To give these homeowners a more spacious and open kitchen, their designer, Kerri Reesey, had an intriguing proposal: Flip spaces. By taking down walls and swapping the location of the kitchen with a dining area and adding a 5-foot bump-out, she was ab…

Designer Mary Maney has updated countless kitchens for clients over the years. That gave her plenty of time and experience to dream up the right features and materials to improve her own aging kitchen. Maney wanted to bring a traditional look to her s…

Few things can cure the post-summer-vacation blues like a relaxing soak in a bathtub. For the ultimate spa-like experience, you’ll want more than just hot water. Your choice of tub and its location within the bathroom, as well as selections for tile, …

After traveling the world and having three kids, these homeowners were ready to settle down in their forever home. They asked designer Taylor Harrison to create a second-floor addition that includes an elevated yet kid-friendly hallway bathroom for th…

This empty-nest couple disliked a lot about their kitchen. A peninsula divided it from the family room. An eat-in area with a desk wasted square footage. And boring finishes in similar tones ran together — honey maple cabinets, mottled, hand-scraped w…

These homeowners disliked the mostly brown and tan finishes and bulky features in their primary bathroom. The couple’s designer, Chad Esslinger, describes the space a bit more bluntly. “Outdated and dismal,” he says. To freshen up the look and feel, t…