Layer by Layer

A dated North Boulder home gradually reshaped through craftsmanship, thoughtful materials, and close collaboration

words Heather Shoning
PHOTOS Sam Griego

In North Boulder, a once-dated home has been quietly transformed—layer by layer—into a series of spaces that feel open, intentional, and deeply personal. The remodel unfolded over several years, beginning with the kitchen and culminating in a reimagined primary bathroom, refreshed living room, and an expanded outdoor retreat. At every stage, the through line was collaboration.

The kitchen renovation set the tone. Fortunately, the existing footprint already offered an open floor plan, so there was no need to remove walls or dramatically alter the layout. Instead, the focus was on refinement—improving function, elevating materials, and enhancing flow, says Dezsö Adai, owner of Adai Construction.

White perimeter cabinetry brightens the room, while a warm cherry wood island grounds the space and adds contrast. The island was enlarged and subtly repositioned to create more prep surface and better clearance for appliances, making it as practical as it is welcoming. Two custom wood-and-leather stools tuck neatly beneath the overhang, reinforcing the kitchen’s role as a social hub.

The wood floors, largely existing, were refinished to restore their natural warmth. Overhead, slim pendants with red accents echo the red faucet and appliances, injecting just enough color into an otherwise restrained palette.

Cabinetry for the main kitchen came from a local supplier, with Dezsö and his team filling in the custom details. Those tailored elements are what give the space its personality: a handcrafted cherry hood above the range and floating cherry wood shelves in the coffee nook. Instead of upper cabinets crowding the walls, the shelves keep the area visually light—an intentional decision that opens the sightlines and creates breathing room, balancing the space.

Moroccan zellige tile selections were largely driven by the homeowners, with the builder offering practical guidance. The pale backsplash tile brings subtle texture without overwhelming the cabinetry, and its grout ensures long-term durability—an adjustment made after discussions about maintenance. The result is a kitchen that feels both crisp and lived-in, modern but not sterile.

Just beyond the kitchen, the living room carries the same balance of warmth and clarity. The most striking feature is the fireplace, wrapped in more zellige tiles, which read as both rustic and contemporary. The homeowners intentionally avoided grout lines that would overly polish the look, favoring a surface that feels tactile and dimensional.

Large windows flood the room with natural light, highlighting pale walls and soft furnishings in cream and indigo. Two sculptural lounge chairs flank the fireplace, their slender metal legs reinforcing the room’s lightness. A round coffee table with a black metal base anchors the seating area without visual weight.

The effect is serene. Nothing shouts for attention, yet every material—tile, wood flooring, upholstery—contributes to a cohesive, layered atmosphere.

If the kitchen was a study in refinement, the primary bathroom was a bold reinvention. Unlike the kitchen, this phase required a structural shift. The original bathroom was modest in size and connected to a deck that saw little use. Rather than sacrificing interior storage, with guidance from Dezsö, the homeowners chose to reclaim deck space by pushing the bathroom outward, gaining several crucial feet.

“It gave us a nice tub area,” Dezsö says. “The tub is now sitting where the deck once was, and that allowed us to move it out of the way to make the shower much larger.” 

The new layout reads as a generous, spa-like retreat. A freestanding tub sits beneath expansive windows, framing treetop views and bringing in soft daylight. Adjacent to it, a large glass-enclosed shower stretches along a wall clad in warm wood-toned tile. A recessed niche glows with integrated lighting, emphasizing clean lines and precise detailing.

Every cabinet in the primary bath is custom. “I’m a carpenter by trade. I build cabinets. That’s my thing,” Dezsö says. “I’m not just a business owner, licensed builder. By trade, I’m a carpenter.”

The floating double vanity, crafted from natural knotty alder with matched horizontal grain, introduces warmth against the cool blue-gray tile backsplash. Slim integrated pulls maintain a streamlined profile, while wall-mounted faucets keep the countertops uncluttered.

The homeowners’ preference for a clean, modern aesthetic guided the detailing. Edges were carefully mitered to avoid visible trim pieces, and metal accents were kept to a minimum. The finished space feels calm and expansive—a place to linger rather than rush through.

The transformation continues outside. The old deck, described as aging and underused, was replaced with a larger, more intentional outdoor living area. New decking stretches beyond a covered porch, framed by freshly wrapped posts and low stone-clad walls.

Built-in elements—such as the grill station—anchor the perimeter, while a seating arrangement gathers around a vivid red fire table. The bold pop of color contrasts with the gray decking and soft outdoor upholstery, echoing the kitchen’s subtle red accents.

The homeowners now step directly from their renovated kitchen into an outdoor space designed for both entertaining and quiet mornings with coffee. Southern exposure ensures ample sunlight, making the deck a natural extension of the home’s interior.

Though each space tells its own story, the remodel’s success rests on a shared vision. “In this business, it’s a collaborative effort,” Dezsö reflects. “It’s between the builder, the homeowner, and in a lot of cases, the city or county building department.” In this particular instance, the homeowner and the builder were just on the same page throughout the whole thing. 

That alignment allowed ideas to evolve—whether enlarging an island, reclaiming a deck for bathroom space, or experimenting with tile finishes—without friction. The result is a home that feels cohesive, not because it was redesigned all at once, but because each phase was built thoughtfully on the last.

From the warm wood cabinetry to the textured fireplace tile and spa-inspired bath, the remodel demonstrates how restraint, craftsmanship, and open dialogue can quietly transform everyday spaces into something enduring.

For more information, visit adaiconstruction.com.