Project Spotlight: This new build home backs up to a wooded ravine and was purchased by our clients in 2019. They contacted us in September 2021 to add more functional entertaining and family gathering space to their backyard outdoor living space.
Award-winning design & build! Our Team has received 3 Contractor of the Year awards for this project in the Residential Outdoor Living Space $100,000 to $250,000 category.
The prestigious Contractor of the Year (CotY) awards are presented each year by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) at the local, regional and national levels for the design, planning and building of this project. NARI members nominate their best projects through an online portal for judging by industry professionals selected by NARI Executives outside their local chapter or region.
CotY award-winning remodeling projects have demonstrated exceptional design and craftsmanship in renovation. A diverse and impartial panel rates each project based on 5 criteria.
To what degree were the expressed needs of the client met?
To what degree does the project enhance the existing structure functionally?
Is there evidence of superior craftsmanship?
To what degree does the project enhance the existing structure aesthetically?
Were innovative used of materials and/or methods of construction used in the project?
The Plans
As Built & Demo PlanProposed Build Plan
Scope & Details
Project Year: 2023
Project Cost: $200,001 – $500,000
Our Remodel-Design-Build Team executed the project plan and scope of work to upgrade their outdoor living space which features an addition of a new timber framed porch with a stone fireplace. Architectural upgrades to the existing porch include new railing and corbels on the columns. WeatherStrong outdoor cabinets were also installed on both porches offering the functionality of both countertop service space and storage.
Before & After Photos
Existing backyard & porchAFTER
Client Testimonial:
“Our favorite part of the project was the design. It’s where our ideas came to life. The onsite team were pros, good with communication and with giving us explanations on decisions we had to make. We now use the new spaces daily since completion. We have other projects planned for the future.”
Watch a video tour of this project on our YouTube channel!
Design & Build Team
Design Consultant – Margot Sheehan, UDCP
Lead Carpenter – Eric Coleman
Ready to add a new outdoor living space?
Get inspired by checking out our Outdoor Living & Exteriors Portfolio. Contact our Client Relations Coordinator to get started! Call 614-459-4000 or visit our website to schedule a phone consult.
Bryan and Richard have made a lot of changes to their 1950’s 2-story home in Upper Arlington, OH since purchasing it in 2019, but hired our Remodel-Design-Build Team to add some much-needed space to complete their vision and upgrade the curb appeal. Their home is now an entertaining dream with flow, function, and amazing views.
Q & A with Bryan & Richard
What was the goal for your remodel?
We wanted to rebuild our dining/living room to feel seamless and as comfortable as the rest of the house. It was important to create a great flow to our outdoor patio spaces.
We completely remodeled the house 2 years prior to working with The Cleary Company, but this renovation did not include any physical additions to the space. During the original remodel, we relocated the kitchen to one-half of the first-floor footprint that took over the existing dining room in order to incorporate a new mud room area with laundry, coat closet and a half bath. With this change, we moved the dining room to the living room to create a “great room” concept. We love the house and enjoy all the initial renovations that also included extensive landscaping and outdoor patio areas.
Unfortunately, the living/dining room side of the house was just too tight and didn’t feel nearly as enjoyable as the rest of the house. Quite simply, it didn’t match all the other enhancements to the home. This was the reason for our recent renovation with The Cleary Company.
With our love of the outside spaces of our home, we also wanted to enhance the curb appeal of this very traditional 1950’s UA layout.
L to R: Interior Living & Dining room spaces, Exterior rear view
What is your favorite aspect of your remodeled space?
The natural light and flow. We love windows and we put a lot of them into the small space! While we only added about 200 total square feet but, the flow and “livability” of the space is absolutely wonderful! The “great room” now connects our front sitting area to our back patio and it’s all seamless.
Additionally, the new front and back porches and gables, with several beautiful design details, completely changes the curb appeal from a 1950’s box to a beautiful modern feeling home. We enjoy entertaining our friends and family and everyone comments on how comfortable our home is. We think that is about the best compliment you can receive!
What advice would you offer to someone who is thinking of remodeling their home? Live in your space for a bit before starting the remodeling process to really understand what you like and what you want to change. Understand that the inconvenience of the work and mess is really a moment in time. Once done, it becomes a very distant memory while you enjoy the vision you had for your home!
The Cleary Company Remodel Difference
Why did you choose The Cleary Company to complete your remodeling project?
We saw their signs throughout the community and attended one of their NARI tour homes. We asked people who were using them directly how they felt about the work and the comments were very positive. We felt that the quality of the workmanship we saw throughout these discussions was very good.
What was your favorite part of working with The Cleary Company and why?
Their attention to detail. We felt that while we knew they were handling multiple and larger renovations they had their attention focused on our project in a way that made us feel valued. We never felt as if we weren’t getting the attention we needed throughout the process. No matter how much you know about construction, there will be things that concern you when it is your own house. We thought they did a very good job in explaining what was happening and how a resolution would come to the project.
Who from our Team stood out and how did they exceed your expectations?
Laura Watson, Rob Lindeboom and Ben Ludlow. They were all so kind and respectful of us as homeowners living through the process.
Laura was outstanding in organizing our thoughts and preferences into a final design that checked all the boxes. She is fun and you can tell she truly enjoys design and the challenges of the project.
Rob is a very good communicator. He is honest and direct and when he doesn’t have the answer he gets back to you with one in a timely manner. He really keeps things moving and always took time to keep us up to date on progress, challenges, etc. We added a few things to the project, and I felt like he was very helpful in guiding those changes for the improvement of the overall project.
Ben was fantastic—we felt like he became part of our family! He is proud of his work and helps to keep everyone moving in the right direction. He, too, is a great communicator and works to resolve things quickly. Usually by the time we would ask a question it had already been resolved!
I would also add that all the subs that work with The Cleary Company were outstanding. We had no issues with any of them. They were all very respectful of being in our home while we were living there.
I work in commercial food service and have been long involved in design build projects for large commercial kitchens. I was so impressed that when we got to the final punch list—I had nothing to put on it; I have never experienced this in my career! Rob and Ben did an outstanding job of managing the details up to the last day.
Just for Fun!
In one word why did you choose to do business with The Cleary Company?
Quality
Would you recommend The Cleary Company?
Absolutely and we have several times already!
Are you ready to remodel your home?
Get started today by visiting our website! Our Remodel-Design-Build Team is ready to help you navigate the remodeling process, upgrade your home’s curb appeal and collaborate with you to make your vision of your home a reality.
Project Spotlight: A classic “South of Lane” 2-story brick colonial home with loads of 1920’s charm and character gets a fully updated main level. The home went from a drab dark traditional interior design to a clean crisp coastal modern farmhouse style.
As-Built & Proposed Floorplans
As-Built FloorplanProposed Design Plan
Before Photos
Project Details
Main living level interior work included all new flooring and paint, an updated powder room, entry, and mudroom plus a new gourmet kitchen with an expanded footprint.
New kitchen layout includes an 8.5’x3’ island, natural wood faux beams, large counter-to-ceiling windows and loads of custom cabinetry and storage.
Dining room features a new dry bar with open shelving, cabinetry plus a drawer refrigerator and a drawer freezer.
Two porch additions were also designed and built. The front porch enhances the curb appeal of the home and allows connection to the interior through two sets of French doors. The rear porch and deck include room for seating, dining and a hot tub. Connection to the back deck is thru new French doors from the family room.
After Photos
View more before & after photos of this project on our Houzz profile. Watch our video tour below!
Building an addition onto your home is different from a remodel to an existing room. In Columbus, OH building a home addition typically adds new several hundred square feet and requires installing all new everything. This includes the foundation, walls, ceiling and roof as well as mechanical systems like electrical, plumbing and heating. Because you are adding something instead of changing a space that already exists, costs for a home addition project can vary greatly.
Calculating the cost of a home addition requires knowing first the design, scope and size of the project and the type of room you want to add. Will new utilities be required? Maybe not for a sunroom but definitely for a new bathroom. There are also many other variables, including permits, trade prices and material costs.
The Remodel-Design-Build Team at The Cleary Company has experience building all types of home additions. created the following project profiles to help you begin the discussion for your next home addition project. We also recommend reviewing Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs Value report for more information on building and remodeling costs in Columbus OH.
3 Home Addition Projects, 3 Budgets & 3 Scopes
UPSCALE –Single floor or 2 story addition + whole house remodel
Possible Scope of Work & Finishes – Price Ranges $350k – $1m+
Increase sq ft of home by building outside the current footprint
Exterior updates including new windows and/or siding
Rework existing interior floorplan
Move and/or add plumbing & hvac
Upgrade existing lighting and electric
Greatest number of choices for finishes & materials
In 2015, a natural gas explosion in Betsy’s Upper Arlington, OH neighborhood created a change to her remodeling timeline. She’d been discussing multiple remodeling projects in her 1950’s ranch with George but had planned to begin when she retired. Circumstances changed due to damage her home sustained from the explosion, and Betsy knew it was best to move up her timeline.
Completed in 2018, Betsy is still enjoying her home’s new open layout that functions better for her active lifestyle as well as entertaining family and friends. “I had a vision for my home. The Cleary Company team brought it to life, and I love it.”
Client Q & A
What spaces did you have redesigned and remodeled?
Almost all of it. The extensive remodel included opening the main living spaces, creating a better connection between the living room, den, and kitchen. Before the remodel, my large living room sat unused and now that room is used every day.
Addition 1 – An old and dated flat roofed 3-season room was damaged in the explosion. I was not sorry to see it or the indoor 13’ brick planter gone. A new sunroom was built with skylights, cabinets, a beverage fridge and a wall of glass with 8’ sliding doors opening up to the backyard.
Addition 2 – The new sunroom ceiling was vaulted and extended out over a new concrete patio, based on a suggestion from George Cleary. This created a shaded outdoor living space near the pool.
Kitchen – Gutted and removed a bulky closet and the soffits. All new custom cherry cabinets, granite countertops and 3×12 glass tile backsplash. The small eating area, which had no view, became more counterspace and cabinets. It was relocated to take advantage of the views out of both the front and back windows.
Bathrooms – A half bath was completely updated & the main bath got a new shower.
Fireplace – Removed large floor-to-ceiling, brick wall that contained two fireplaces—one in the living room and one in the den. A new Heatilator 60″, see-through fireplace was custom built that provides warmth to both the living room and den, creating a more open floorplan and better flow between the spaces.
All new windows, contemporary trim, baseboards, as well as a new entry door and all new closet doors were installed.
All of the floors were sanded and stained with a new updated color.
Interior Remodel Photos of Before – During – After
Before – Living room fireplaceDuring – new fireplace
Exterior Remodel & Outdoor Living Addition Photos of Before – During – After
Before – sunroomDuring – new sunroom framingAfter – sunroom & covered patioAfter – outdoor living space vaulted ceiling
What is your favorite part of your remodeled home?
The openness! It was so interesting to remake my 50’s ranch by removing a wall that now allows seamless movement from one room to the next. The layout flows much better, making it easy and a wonderful home to entertain and live in.
Why did you choose The Cleary Company to design-build your home remodel?
George Cleary has the best team around. He did some work on my prior home and I personally know him as well as some of his family. I didn’t even look at any other company because I knew The Cleary Company would take care of me, create my vision and I trusted I would love the end result.
I knew we would have a great experience. The Cleary Company craftsmen and their subs were all great. I trusted having The Cleary people and their subs in my home, even when I wasn’t there. George and Rob Lindeboom had creative ideas and suggestions and understood the look I wanted to create. It was a year-long project, with very few issues.
Who stood out and how did they exceed your expectations?
My Project Developer was great help during the dealings with the insurance claims from the explosion. He’s meticulous and focused on the details.
Rob Lindeboom is a fabulous onsite Project Manager. He has amazing creativity and great experiences to not only draw on but also to utilize to solve issues. He had so many great ideas. For example, my kitchen is long and linear, and he knew we needed to install all the electrical wall plugs horizontally, to keep the right look of the room. He is very easy to work with and was extremely helpful with the construction details of the new fireplace. He is a wealth of knowledge and talent.
Testimonial
What advice would you offer to someone who is thinking of remodeling their home?
When talking with your design team, tell them what you want, ask for pictures, and visit examples in other homes the remodeler has done. Talk with homeowners who’ve worked with your remodeler. Ask questions like what they like and don’t like about their remodel.
I did this and it was most helpful to visualize and feel what I wanted in my 3-season room, especially George’s vaulted ceiling idea, by visiting a home The Cleary Company had remodeled. That ceiling completely transformed the feel of my sunroom and carrying the ceiling out over the patio transformed that space as well.
What two words would best describe The Cleary Company?
Trust and Quality! I trust them and the quality of their work is fabulous. I lived in my home throughout my renovation, and they were very sensitive to my needs.
Do you recommend The Cleary Company for anyone remodeling?
Absolutely! One of my friends just completed a kitchen remodel and another friend is talking with them now.
Upper Arlington home gets top to bottom makeover inside & out. See how our team transformed this 1950’s ranch into our client’s forever home. Scope of work included demo of the home’s kitchen, dining room, 3 bathrooms new windows, a refresh of the home’s living room, mudroom, master suite and basement plus building a sunroom addition. Several of the home’s new large picture windows feature custom glass panes that prevent fatal bird collisions.
Project Designer – Laura Watson ASID, UDCP : Project Manager – Rob Lindeboom CLC
The dual-income active family of 4 desired a larger kitchen with a better layout for meal preparation and entertaining plus more functional storage. We proposed to open the wall between their family room and kitchen but by doing so it required the removal of an unused 2nd staircase to the upper floors. This design solution made a huge difference in the home’s traffic flow as well as allows mom to keep an eye on the little ones while preparing meals.
The kitchen scope of this project won a Contractor of the Year Award from NARI of Central OH in the Residential Kitchen Remodel category over $120k. The scope of work for the entire project was more than just remodeling the kitchen. Our Design-Build Team also relocated a powder room, built an addition of a mudroom, refinished hardwood floors, and updated the adjacent family room w/new flooring, drywall, lighting, and paint. Luxury features of the newly remodeled spaces are heated tile floors, Cambria quartz countertops, custom Amish built cabinetry and state of the art appliances. Additionally, this home was featured on the 25th anniversary Kitchen Kapers tour. This tour of exclusive homes in Upper Arlington OH is a philanthropic endeavor of Riverside Methodist Hospital Service Board VII.
The longtime clients hired our Team for multiple phases of this Remodel-Design-Build project as their family expanded and grew. Overall we completed two additions as well as extensive remodels of their first floor, including the kitchen, family room, and powder room. Second-story projects included a bedroom addition and a primary en suite remodel.
Before Photos
Existing 1st-floor spaces before remodeling.
After Remodeling Photos
1st Floor Remodel & Bedroom Addition completed.
Also included in the scope, remodeling and expanding the kitchen footprint, relocating a powder room, building a new mudroom, refinishing all the hardwood floors and updating the adjacent family room with new flooring, drywall, lighting and paint. Luxury features of the new kitchen included heated tile floors, Cambria quartz countertops, custom Amish built cabinetry and state of the art appliances.
Additionally, this home was featured on the 25th anniversary Kitchen Kapers tour. A tour of luxury kitchens in Upper Arlington OH raising funds to support cancer care at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital.
Ready to transform your home with a remodeling project?
Design-Build remodeling can transform your home into a more inviting, functional, and versatile space for entertaining. By combining functionality, aesthetics, and comfort, remodeling your home’s interior spaces can transform your spaces, enhancing both casual get-togethers and formal gatherings.
Our Design-Build-Remodel Team is ready to collaborate with you on your outdoor living space additions. Contact our Client Relations Coordinator by calling 614-459-4000 or visit the Contact page on our website.
