I fell in love with the original Bungalow in Rosemont even before my clients owned it. I had been walking my girls to school for years by the bungalow that reminded me of my Great Grandmother’s Sears Bungalow in Michigan, where I grew up. Seeing it reminded me of daydreaming on her front porch after Sunday School. I’d eat her famous apple pie at the 1950s laminate kitchen table and was fascinated with the upstairs bedrooms that felt so elegant with a vanity for makeup and a bathroom always stocked with rose smelling homemade soaps. My love of old homes and design began there, and it felt surreal to be hired as the designer for this whole home renovation with the seasoned team of professionals including architect Laura Campbell of Convene Architecture, builder Harry Braswell, Inc., and the homeowners that also shared a love of design, homes, history, and a sense of place. 

Our collaborative team was grateful to guide our clients through this multi-year project to create a home true to them, the house’s history and architecture, and one in which we were all proud. The Urban Farm Lake Bungalow Home, as affectionately named during the project, came about due to the homeowner’s love of Lake Life (from also growing up in Michigan), Urban Life (from living in Chicago and DC), Farm Life (For a love of vintage and amazing eye for design herself), and the home’s original bungalow style.

Architect Laura Campbell shares, “we loved working with this extraordinary team: from our clients with their dream of remaking their home, to Kristin Try who provided her creativity, kindness, and professionalism, to the builder who deftly executed on all the details. You can see the collaboration in each image of the transformed house-we’re so proud!” I couldn’t agree more- the pictures do show the results of this collaboration and I hope will inspire you to assemble a stellar team to guide, advocate, and enjoy the arduous undertaking of creating your dream home.  

No project is without challenges or problems, especially one of this scope, but we all came to the table asking how we could work together to resolve issues and build on the ideas of one another. If you’ve done a renovation of any sort, you’ve likely heard, “No, we can’t do that” from someone you work with. I’m pleased to say that didn’t happen with this project. When we found something that pushed the limits of what was feasible, each member worked to identify a thoughtful solution or recommendation. 

The project manager from Harry Braswell, Gretchen Brown adds, “a good collaborative team blends everyone’s individual expertise and allows the project to shine. Our team of homeowner, architect, interior designer and builder did just that!” This unified approach and mutual respect was incredibly refreshing and created trust among all; thereby, resulting in a beautiful, functional, and deeply personal home for our clients to make memories in for years to come. I hope the homeowners and all those with a connection to this home look back on their memories as lovingly as I do on my Great Grandmother’s bungalow home. A great design project is so much more than just making it pretty, or getting it done fast or within budget. 

The fact that we look back on this project with deep appreciation for one another says a lot, considering all the challenging days and endless details coming together during a multi-year build (and continue to work together every opportunity we can)! 

The homeowner sums it up with the best advice, “when talking about our renovation team, I tell everyone that if I have another construction project in the future, I will use the exact same team: from architect to interior designer to builder. The right team made our project successful.” We are now several years out from the beginning of this project, and it is a true reminder just how important it is to gather a team of passionate experts who will set you up for the most successful project possible. It goes beyond just a business transaction- each of us deeply cares and leaves a little bit of ourselves behind in each project, so we want it to be a positive experience for everyone. 

I’ve also included links to in-depth articles on our collaborative process and before and after photos featured in Houzz, and a previous Alexandria Stylebook interview by Amy Rutherford to inspire you. 

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