It was a home Carol Reece had no interest in buying. Walls throughout were a mélange of peach and mauve. Under foot were dated 12-inch square peach glazed tiles with peculiar inlaid “islands” of hunter green carpet. The dated kitchen’s countertops were a pinkish-hued laminate that matched the pink undertone of the pickled oak cabinetry. The home seemed mired in the 1990s.
“Don’t let the green carpet deter you from your retirement dream home,” the listing language implored, “the decorative upgrades you may desire are easily accomplished!” “Settling for a lesser view is something you will regret for years,” it warned. In fact, the savvy listing agent had front-ended the listing of the 2430 square-foot Estancia with photos of jaw-dropping backyard views of the golf course and mountains; one had to scroll past seven images to get a glimpse at the home’s interior.
After a considerable amount of moves and home improvement projects during their marriage, Carol had set her sights on moving back to SaddleBrooke to something more “move-in ready,” while natural born fixer-upper Dave Reece simply desired a property with a south-facing patio and glorious Catalina Mountain views. Confident in the sellers’ maintenance of the home’s systems, and with plenty of remodeling experience under his belt, Dave reassured his wife, “Don’t worry—I’ve got some ideas.”
The blueprint in Dave’s mind was to demo the walls and columns of the old dining room and the double-sided fireplace wall, creating an open concept living area. Then, he would move and reroute the electrical wiring and HVAC ductwork to raise the ceiling to its full vault. He imagined a spacious, new kitchen and a workshop by repurposing space from the unwanted formal dining room. In the master suite, Dave envisioned a more functional bathroom and dressing area layout than the standard Estancia floor plan.
Dave started the demolition work himself in 2022 after buying the house, with the help of a few hired workmen. Carol didn’t worry… until the day her husband slipped on broken tile and fractured his spine. Undaunted, Dave shifted into a supervisory role, coordinating the efforts of multiple contractors to bring his vision to life.
Attendees of the 2024 Home Tour entered a home that dramatically differs from the standard Estancia floor plan. Upon entering the front door, one is greeted by the spacious open concept living area with soaring vaulted-ceilings. The eye is immediately drawn to the room’s focal point, the south wall of windows which frame the breathtaking panoramic views of the mountain. Gone are the signature double-sided fireplace wall that defined a formal living room and family room, along with the wall separating the formal dining room from the kitchen. The home is decked with new 12” x 24” tile and six-inch baseboard, new interior paint, recessed lighting, chandeliers and fans throughout.
By utilizing most of the space occupied by the formal dining room, the new kitchen effectively doubled in size from the original. Only the sink and cooktop locations were retained and a column that extends from the corner of the new island indicates the spot where the dining room used to separate the kitchen. The kitchen is a complete redesign with custom cabinetry by Poblanos Cabinetry featuring a timeless white Shaker style cabinet and a sizable new island with contrasting gray cabinetry. Snowfall granite countertops, glass subway tiles and a few glass-fronted cabinets add light and sparkle to the space.
A new walk-in pantry with a ribbed glass French door and new bar area counter and cabinets with a GE Monogram wine cooler are located in the far corner of the renovated kitchen, in space that was originally the dining room. The Estancia’s trademark garden window was replaced by a picture window and a brand-new stainless appliance suite installed; including a GE Cafe six-burner cooktop, GE Profile French door refrigerator, GE Profile Advantium microwave/convection wall oven, and a GE Profile lower oven with a left swing door. The SmartHQ app can connect to both the lower oven and dishwasher using WIFI.
In the primary bedroom suite, the owners’ bathroom and closet were enlarged by taking space from the two adjacent rooms: to the south, two-feet of the primary bedroom, and, to the north, the niche/closet space of the den. A gorgeous doorless walk-in shower with vertically set marble effect tile sits in the area previously occupied by a garden tub. The white cabinetry of the new double vanity with grey and white granite countertops lends a spa-like feel to the elegant bathroom design. With the commode relocated to its own separate closet apart from the old shower, more space was available to build out the closet. Dave expanded the closet and installed specialized shelving for Carol, and she couldn’t be happier. He accomplished this by ingeniously converting six feet of the dining room into an addition to the garage, which serves as his workshop.
“I’ve always said he should have been an architect,” says Carol Reece, relating how Dave’s fascination with home improvement stems from his formative years helping his builder dad and uncle. It led to a life-long pursuit of improving the numerous homes the couple has lived in, along with two properties they flipped. She had faith in her husband’s abilities and, in the end, saw the transformation of an outdated property yield the home of her dreams. While Carol is convinced that this is the last home they will renovate, those who know Dave remain unconvinced.
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