Basement Conversion Professionals in Quechee, VT

“Nancy Leary did a beautiful redesign on my 1850's VT farmhouse. She seamlessly incorporated all my needs, in a fashion that was respectful of the original character of the house, but which also managed to incorporate all the conveniences of the 21st century. The project included: restoration of original front porch, design and installation of a new, modern kitchen, total LR redesign including: creation of stove fireplace and appropriate flanking built-in bookcases, design and installation of new windows and exterior door in LR, relocation of front door, and realignment of beams under original pine plank flooring to eliminate serious buckling and slant. Besides doing a basic basement rehab, a including a new concrete floor, new windows and insulation, upstairs Nancy also did a new insulation of many exterior walls, and in the master bedroom, the installation of new gas fireplace and incorporation of old mantel . Her attentiveness, humor and care throughout the project made her a pleasure to work with. I recommend her highly.”

“Smith & Vansant is a phenomenal architectural firm. In fact, working with them renovated not only my house, but my life! After 15 years or so of living with the property more or less as I found it, my tiny 1850 Cape needed long-overdue renovations -- including improvements to all major systems, solutions to a big water problem in the basement, a new kitchen, a new roof, adding working and living space, and a home office, along with extensive site work and landscaping. From a design perspective, they are simply brilliant. They have a fantastic aesthetic sense; know how to integrate old and new in a way that is pure genius; and are skilled problem-solvers. I wanted the house to be more liveable and comfortable, while still honoring the antique details that had drawn me to the property in the first place. Pi Smith and Stephen Branchflower in particular not only listened to me all along the way, but heard me. They gave me exactly what I had hoped for. From a practical perspective, I needed to live in the house while this was going on, and they were sensitive to my need to carry on amidst the upheaval. They worked closely with the contractor, Lud Leskovar, to assure that I was comfortable and inconvenienced a little as humanly possible while the work was being done all around me. Smith & Vansant, Lud Leskovar and I worked closely as a team. The kept me informed as to costs all along the way and helped me make decisions that took into account my both budget and my dreams. They were endlessly patient and always kind. Everyone in this close-knit firm is a pleasure to work with, operates with the highest integrity, and knows what they are doing. I can't recommend Smith & Vansant highly enough. For photos of this project, see "Houzz Tour: Beautiful, Hardworking Cape Renovation" on this site.”

“Paul Rovinell and I first worked on a project together over 10 years ago. Paul hired me to design a kitchen. He has since hired my firm to collaborate on many more kitchens throughout New England. I always admired his restrained aesthetic and his efforstless falir for modern spaces. When it came time for me to transfrom my UGLY 1960 time capsule Paul graciously accepted the challenge. We had so much fun designing it! He listened and delivered. My husband and I were THRILLED with the result. Paul is an architectural force. So orignianl and creative - I cannot say enough - Paul is a true talent.”

“Studio Nexus designed an interior renovation of a large part of our home (kitchen, baths, living areas, master bedroom), as well as an outdoor deck/roof overhang. I would strongly recommend them. They are highly qualified architects whose range of experience encompasses thoughtful renovation of existing residences. One of their great strengths was interpreting our goals for the house renovation into creative design solutions. Studio Nexus understood the bones of the house and what design concepts we found important. We wanted as many windows as possible, and as open a space as possible. They designed a kitchen/living area that met these requirements elegantly and fit within the modern lines of the original home. It is the true heart of our home, and the space that we spend most of our time as a family. Studio Nexus uncovered our house’s potential, creating a light, bright and welcoming living environment. They accomplished all this while being mindful of our budget.”

“I worked with Anita on interior design/decorating decisions after buying a new house. This included selection of interior paint colors, furniture, upholstery, and light fixtures, as well as furniture placement. She was professional and thorough and most importantly very attuned to not only my style and taste but also to my needs as a mother of small children. I also appreciated that she helped me source almost every item locally and was sensitive to the budget. I will definitely be working with her again in the future.”

“I have wanted a kitchen for years that represented my Victorian home. The design work and construction was meticulous. The time spent gathering together all elements of the project was done professionally and encompassed areas beyond my range of knowledge. My questions and concerns were listened to with an excellent attitude and explained to the fullest. The functionality of the kitchen is amazing. The work was done to our agreed time frame and within our budget. Gosselin Design worked with all the vendors in a professional manner and acquired the products we ordered as timely as possible. They dealt with issues beyond our control. I am very pleased with the exceptional work done on my project.”

“We absolutely love working with Sloane Mayor! She is an extremely creative problem solver and a wonderful listener who doesn't get defensive about her ideas. While Sloane is always very professional, it’s also fun working with her. Generally it doesn't take her very long to get from an initial conversation about a project to a drawing that we would like to implement. Sloane has worked really well with our builder and they have mutual respect for each other. We have never had any issues with timeliness. She is easy to reach and will come over to see something or solve a problem on very short notice. In addition to her artistic talent and strong sense of design, Sloane has a deep interest in and experience with environmentally preferable products and materials. We were so pleased with Sloane’s work that we flew her out to Utah to help us with the renovation of our second home.”

“Sam helped us create a beautiful and highly functional building that met many needs - a library for our book collecting, a home office, guest quarters, kitchen, garage and utility space and a shipping and inventory room for our fine art and book business. It is a separate building from our home and Sam cleverly joined the buildings with an Italian inspired courtyard surrounded by gardens. He brought a wealth of knowledge and creative thinking to the project based on a long and illustrious career. We finished on deadline and were within budget. Sam was always willing to listen to the input of others and was a collaborator with all - not a slave to his own ideas.”