Staying Home: An Accessible Des Moines Remodel

This 1913 gem is overflowing with the historic character that makes its Des Moines neighborhood so coveted. However, its traditional two-story layout faced a modern hurdle: a total lack of main-floor accessibility. For homeowners who love their community and wish to age in place—the ability to live independently and safely in one’s own home for years to come—a creative footprint rethink was required.

By introducing a main-floor primary suite, we transformed this historic beauty into a lifelong sanctuary, proving you never have to sacrifice vintage charm for future-proof functionality.

Expert Guidance for Lifelong Living

As a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), Red House Remodeling owner Ben Trannel brings the specialized expertise necessary to balance home safety with high-end aesthetics.

"We’ve partnered with numerous families to enhance their independence, ranging from streamlined shower conversions to expansive, full-scale additions," Trannel explains. "Our process is rooted in the design-build philosophy: we start by understanding a homeowner’s vision, then engineer seamless, buildable solutions that ensure their home evolves right along with them."

Unlocking Potential Off the Rear Footprint

Before: Since the existing layout was already generous, converting an original main-floor room was a possibility—but doing so would have disrupted the home’s historic flow and the spaces the family loved most. Instead, our team designed a primary suite addition off the rear of the home. This new addition seamlessly integrates a spacious bedroom, a full bath and a walk-in closet complete with washer and dryer.

The addition also served as the catalyst for a total kitchen transformation, providing the extra square footage needed to create a functional culinary heart of the home. To bring this vision to life, Red House Remodeling teamed up with frequent collaborator Becky Leu of Leu Interiors, ensuring the new construction felt like a natural extension of the original 1913 craftsmanship.

Designing a Seamless Transition

After: The hallmark of a successful addition is the seamless marriage of old and new. By creating a purposeful new transition off the dining room, the primary suite feels like an organic evolution of the original floor plan rather than an afterthought.

Accessibility was woven into every transition. We widened the kitchen entryway to enhance flow and paired it with a redesigned, inclusive dining area. To ensure visual cohesion, materials were carefully selected to mirror the home’s historic character—from the warm interior finishes to an exterior that blends with the existing 1913 facade.

A Reimagined, Multi-Zonal Kitchen

The kitchen was transformed from a cramped, L-shaped footprint into a zoned space that maximizes every inch of vertical storage. While the range and refrigerator maintain their familiar placement, we introduced a dedicated "clean-up zone" on an adjacent wall, housing the sink and dishwasher for a more efficient workflow.

A third multi-purpose zone currently serves as a sun-drenched desk and breakfast nook—a favorite sanctuary for the homeowner’s plant collection. This area was purposefully designed with a generous width to comfortably accommodate a wheelchair if needs change down the road.

To honor the home’s heritage, the new cabinetry features a stained oak finish that celebrates the rich wood grain found throughout the rest of the 1913 structure, beautifully paired with elegant antique gray quartz countertops. While the overall lighting layout was completely modernized with recessed and under-cabinet fixtures, we intentionally integrated the family’s favorite heirloom pendant above the desk. At Red House Remodeling, we love finding a beautiful new home for the meaningful details that already hold a place in a family's heart.

Seamless, "Invisible" Accessibility in the Primary Bath

The new ensuite bathroom serves up traditional elegance alongside "invisible" accessibility—proving that safety features can be as beautiful as they are functional.

Equipped with strategically placed grab bars and a sleek, low-threshold shower, the space also features a clever design secret: the vanity doors currently conceal a laundry basket, but the cabinetry is engineered to be easily removed for wheelchair clearance in the future. By mirroring the stained oak and quartz finishes found in the kitchen, the suite achieves a serene, harmonious aesthetic that provides the perfect backdrop for beginning or ending the day.

Love Your Home for a Lifetime

Whether you are finally building the gourmet kitchen of your dreams or designing a primary suite that ensures you can stay in the home you love, remodeling is a transformative journey. No matter if your motivation is a creative "just-because" or a functional "must-have," our team is here to help you love your home for a lifetime.

Reach out today to schedule your consultation.

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