Blue Ridge

This Blue Ridge Mountain home transformation entailed a full gut renovation of 6,300 sq. ft. of living space. The homeowners engaged ICON after first meeting with architects and interior designers to draw up the plans. Our team worked closely with the architects and designers on a daily basis to massage and enhance the plans once the project was underway.

Our focus was to modernize the home and make it more efficient while still maintaining the look and feel of the original 100-year-old home. For reference, the house was built in 1926, with an addition in 1959. 

“They didn’t want to change the house and make it something it wasn’t,” said project manager Jim Matthieu. “They wanted to make it work for their lifestyle.” And that is exactly what our team accomplished – improving details both inside and outside the home to maximize enjoyment. 

To preserve the home’s character and charm, we kept the original staircase and eliminated another that was added in a previous addition. We maintained the original hardwood flooring on most of the lower level.

Upstairs, we added matching hardwood floors so the flooring would be consistent throughout the home. All the existing fireplaces remained but were updated for beauty and function. 

The home now consists of 6 bedrooms, 7 full bathrooms, 1 powder room, and several gathering spaces. Let’s explore the highlights of each main space, starting with the spaces on the first floor and working our way upstairs. 

The kitchen underwent a major expansion. Adding approximately 200 sq. ft. onto the back of the house created a larger footprint with room for a walk-in pantry and banquette. 

The improved layout and brand new appliances – two dishwashers, a separate fridge and freezer, a wine fridge, and a 48” gas range – streamline cooking and entertaining, a significant perk of a modern kitchen renovation. 

Whereas the original kitchen and butlers pantry felt like a hunting lodge with dark-stained wood, the transformed modern kitchen feels clean and bright. The preserved wood cabinets in the butlers pantry pay tribute to the original home. 

Next, we converted a sitting room into a new mudroom and laundry room on the lower level. While the original laundry sink remained, a few additional features improved functionality.

The twin stacked washer and dryer saves space, and the island containing laundry hampers and trash receptacle improves function. Lockers contain the kids’ school and sports equipment, while the coat closet provides extra storage.

On the main floor, there are three gathering spaces for the family to enjoy – a living room, a family room, and a recreational room. 

In the original living room, there was only one French door and no access to the back patio.

After the renovation, three sets of French doors open up to the outdoors, improving the flow and opening up the space for entertaining.

The family room/sunroom was part of the 1959 addition. After the new remodel, this space features an open concept floor plan, lots of natural light, and gorgeous views of the mountains.

It now opens onto a new patio and spa deck, providing even more entertaining space.

The rec room, which is connected to the sunroom, boasts an original fireplace with an updated mantle/surround, as well as wood-paneled cabinets for storing kids’ games. 

The upstairs footprint of the home changed drastically. ICON remodeled every bedroom and reconfigured the floor plans so that every single bedroom could be a suite.

This created 3 kids rooms and 2 guest rooms, a den in the middle of these 5 rooms, as well as a primary suite set apart from the rest for privacy.

Our master craftsman Don Guilbault created custom built-ins for the majority of the closets, and built a custom storage bench to match custom bunk beds for the kids. 

The primary bathroom was completely gutted and expanded throughout this renovation project. It was originally very bare bones, with a one-piece steel shower stall and a single vanity.

The renovated bathroom space features a steam shower, freestanding tub, double vanity, heated floors, and a towel warmer. A new dormer created space for a double window to improve light flow and take advantage of the mountain views. 

In addition to the primary bathroom gut remodel, ICON reconfigured another 4 baths on the second floor. Adding 2 additional baths upstairs created a total of 7.5 baths on the property, up from the original 5.5 baths.  

We added an office within the primary suite, just past the bedroom and his and her closets. The office is strategically placed as far away from activity as possible, ensuring privacy and quiet.

Glass double doors open up onto a walk-out balcony. It is a true work-from-home sanctuary with views of the backyard and mountain landscape.   

Finally, the guest house underwent its own transformation. Throughout the renovation project, it was completely updated with new siding, new appliances, fresh interior paint, and added heat and air conditioning.

We remodeled the two existing bathrooms and added a kitchen and laundry room. Lastly, we repaired and refinished the existing hardwood floors. This fully finished guest house is now ready to accommodate friends and family for an extended stay.  

Throughout this historic home remodel, we celebrated this 100-year-old home’s character and charm while boosting its efficiency and functionality for modern family living.

This type of renovation work is our specialty at ICON Custom Builders – whether it’s a small bathroom renovation or a full home gut renovation like this.

We carefully blended traditional and modern elements to honor this historic home’s legacy and preserve family memories, while creating space to make new ones. This was the greatest gift we could give our clients.

As the expression goes, it’s what’s on the inside that counts. We believe that when it comes to home renovations, what’s on the outside counts just as much! The exterior of this home in the Blue Ridge Mountains received several transformations too. 

ICON enhanced the beauty of the home by adding a stone entrance. We removed the existing powder bath in the front of the house to give the front facade a cleaner, symmetrical look.

Then we bumped out the stone archway around the existing front door to create a “wow” moment. It should be said that all 3 exterior wood doors from almost 100 years ago are still there and still functional. 

The existing patio transformed into an expanded covered patio and the original deck was torn down to create a screened-in porch. The covered patio features an area perfect for al fresco dining.

The remodeled porch features a ceiling fan, television, fireplace, and heaters. Automatic retractable screens provide protection from bugs and inclement weather. Directly above the porch is the office’s walk-out balcony and private sitting area. 

The spacious outdoor patio adds about 400 sq. ft. of brand new outdoor living and entertaining space. Now the homeowners can sit back and relax on the Adirondack chairs, or enjoy a meal at the outdoor dining table, all while taking in the views overlooking the mountains. 

The family room or sunroom extends into more outdoor entertaining space. The doors open onto a new patio and spa deck. The wide overhanging roof offers weather protection while the outdoor kitchen provides a fridge, grill and storage.

It is equipped with Sonos sound – every music lover and party host’s dream. 

The brand new spa deck spans approximately 400 sq. ft. across the backyard and fully takes advantage of the views. The hot tub provides a space to unwind and decompress, while the deck provides space to soak up the sun, read and relax.

From the covered patio and screened-in porch to the outdoor kitchen and spa deck, this home has it all. It feels like you’re stepping back in time – soaking up generations of family memories – while at the same time enjoying modern luxuries.

Here in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, every day feels like a getaway. The impact of this transformation will last for generations. 

The Winston-Salem Journal shared the history of this home and its transformation in this May 2026 article.