By special request Details Consulting Group (DCG)

Serendipity can sometimes put you in the right place at the right time, bringing about a change that can transform your life and your home for the better.

That was precisely what happened for the owners of this home. The couple visited the Louisville Home, Garden & Remodeling Show and happened to meet Rob Osborne, owner of Details Consulting Group (DCG), and the rest, as they say, is history.

After touring one of the DCG Details Home Showcase homes, the couple commissioned DCG to undertake an extensive remodel of the house they had recently bought. Although it was only nine years old, the home did not ideally suit the owners' love of entertaining nor did it reflect their love of New Orleans. They consequently asked Osborne to visit the home and paint a picture of what he would do to make their home feel like the showcase home they had visited.

"I walked through the front door and could immediately see the opportunities to transform the house into a showcase home that would meet their needs," Osborne says. "The first and most obvious decision was to open up the entry foyer, which felt closed off and uninviting."

The subsequent transformation reflects the meticulous standards that define all projects by Details Consulting Group. In the entry foyer, a curved wall on the upper level was removed to expose a mezzanine area, and dark-stained beams and iron balustrades introduced. For visual balance Osborne also added a balcony loft with a customized stained glass door.

To open up the entry further, the walls between the foyer and dining room were replaced with columns. This increased the size of the openings to the kitchen and great room. An archway was introduced to frame the entry to the great room.

"This changes the way you experience the entry," says Osborne. "It draws you into the new kitchen and entertaining area. To create this large space we also removed a structural wall between the original kitchen and sitting room. There is now an easy flow between all these spaces, which makes the whole house work better for the owners."

SolidPlus¢ engineered oak flooring made in the USA by Somerset Hardwood Flooring also enhances the visual continuity.

To provide a scullery behind the main kitchen, the extra-large laundry room was split into two rooms. This still left enough space for a large laundry room as well as the scullery.

"Details Consulting Group has a mission to make life better for our clients," says Osborne. "This philosophy determined every aspect of the design and was the reason we paid so much attention to the finer points of the design."

Much of this is evident in the renovation of the lower level of the house, which incorporates vintage and French influences reminiscent of New Orleans.

"At the bottom of the stairs is a custom wood wine cellar. Beyond this, the bar and entertaining area is now staged on a brick floor that has a herringbone pattern."

Black wrought iron detailing and replica street signs from New Orleans reinforce the authenticity of the decor.

Other changes include a new photography room, reading loft, steam room and sauna, and a complete renovation of the master bathroom.

The home was repainted throughout in a color palette chosen for the owners from PPG Porter Paints Voice of Color collections.

On the outdoors, the pool house was updated, a grill area added, and pool converted to salt water. DCG also helped the owners go through the process of acquiring an adjacent lot.

"DCG has a passionate team of design, construction and marketing specialists, all with the skills and experience to help ensure every project reaches its full potential," says Osborne. "We ensure all our materials, brands, craftspeople and suppliers deliver the same high quality.

"We also stage regular Home Showcase events, which have included this home, where potential customers can see and experience our work and the products of our vendors."

The company's success is reflected in the awards won by Rob Osborne over the past 20+ years, which include Best of Show, People's Choice and Best Kitchen in numerous home expo shows. Osborne has been a longtime active member of the NAHB, HBAL and HBASI.

To find out how to make life better for your family, visit the Details Consulting Group website: www.detailsconsultinggroup.com.

Story by: Trendsideas