This 1913 gem is overflowing with the historic character that makes this Des Moines neighborhood so coveted, but its traditional two-story layout faced a modern hurdle: a 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 rethink was required. By introducing a main-floor bedroom and full bath, we’ve transformed this historic beauty into a lifelong sanctuary, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice vintage charm for future-proof functionality.

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 accessibility. "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 deeply understanding a homeowner’s vision, then engineer seamless, buildable solutions that ensure their home evolves right along with them."

Since the existing footprint was already generous, converting an original room was a possibility—but doing so would have disrupted the home’s historic flow and the spaces the family has come to love. Instead, the team designed a strategic primary suite addition off the rear of the home. This new wing seamlessly integrates a spacious bedroom, a full bath and a walk-in closet complete with a convenient laundry hub.

The addition also served as the catalyst for a total kitchen transformation, providing the extra square footage needed to create a more expansive, 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.

The hallmark of a successful addition is the seamless marriage of old and new—a goal we fully realized with this project. By creating a new transition off the dining room, the primary suite feels like a natural evolution of the original floor plan rather than an afterthought. We also widened the kitchen entryway to enhance accessibility, pairing it with a redesigned, inclusive dining area. To ensure a cohesive look, every material was carefully selected to mirror the home’s historic character, from the interior finishes to an exterior that blends flawlessly with the existing 1913 facade.

The kitchen was reimagined from a cramped L-shaped footprint into an expansive, expertly zoned culinary 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—designed with a generous width to comfortably accommodate a wheelchair if needs change.

To honor the home’s heritage, the new cabinetry is finished in a stained oak that celebrates the rich wood grain found throughout the rest of the 1913 structure, paired with elegant antique gray quartz countertops. The lighting was completely modernized with a mix of recessed and under-cabinet fixtures; however, we purposefully integrated the family’s favorite heirloom pendant above the desk. At Red House Remodeling, there is nothing we love more than finding a new home for the meaningful details that already hold a place in a family's heart.

‍

The new ensuite bathroom serves up traditional and "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 are 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.

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," we are here to help you love your home for a lifetime. Reach out today to schedule a consultation.

‍