home renovation
Making an ce
Couple’s rental property is transformed into a home for their retirement
n a r t n e
Before by ALI MOENCK project TRACY CLIPSHAM photos KELLY HORKOFF
W
hen we talk about having a dream client, often what we mean is a client who is decisive and open to the solutions offered by an interior designer, and who also has the budget to match their ambitions. Registered interior designer, Tracy Clipsham, recently worked with a couple who took the term “dream client” to the next level. One of the clients was a retired millwork shop owner who personally took on the role of contractor and millworker to bring Clipsham’s designs to life. “Because of his skills, we were able to do everything in-house,” explains Clipsham. “The client completed the framing and built every custom component of the space, from the 16
RENO + DECOR |
AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2023
front door and crown moulding to the new exterior siding and even a custom kitchen table.” The property, a 1,315-sq.-ft. bungalow in Niagara, had for years been used as a rental property. The retired couple were ready to downsize and transform it into a
forever home that would support them in retirement. “We started with a tour of the home to see how they lived and sat down to hear about what they envisioned for the rental property’s new style. His desire was for clean lines, and her wishes were to incorporate existing furniture and add a touch of old Hollywood glamour.” Clipsham’s design incorporates her clients’ dreams, while opening the boxy floorplan and refreshing the exterior’s curb appeal. “We gutted everything down to the studs, updated the space planning, and built a 63-sq.-ft. addition to the kitchen,” says Clipsham. “The only feature we kept was the brick chimney. I absolutely loved the vintage vibe the long-format bricks gave to the home.”