Hiwan Haven

Hiwan Haven: From 90s Time Capsule to Modern Mountain Retreat

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What began as a kitchen renovation for a retired Texas couple quickly blossomed into a multi-room transformation that breathed new life into their beloved mountain sanctuary. The original 1990s design featured cramped spaces, dated red oak cabinets with thick inset edges, and a small and poorly laid out kitchen that made entertaining challenging for these gracious hosts who frequently welcome their friends, and family into their home. Our team opened up the kitchen with a stunning large center island, replaced the outdated cabinetry with warm knotty hickory shakers, and added a show-stopping copper hood vent that perfectly captured their desired rustic-yet-modern aesthetic. The project naturally expanded as we maximized the bathrooms with large format tiles and custom vanity cabinets.  We created storage solutions in the laundry room and reconfigured "dead space" between the laundry and kitchen to build a custom broom closet. Perhaps most dramatically, we added structural beams to the living room—a logistical feat that required crane delivery up their steep mountain driveway—and crafted custom maple built-ins that anchored the space beautifully. The transformation was so successful that the couple hosted an open house to showcase their new home to friends, family, and our entire team, proving that sometimes the best projects are the ones that grow organically from a single room into a complete lifestyle enhancement.