HOME ADDITIONS

University Park First Floor Addition

University Park First Floor Addition - BEFORE

Award Winning Project

NARI 2020 Regional Winner

Homeowner Desired Outcome

The homeowners of this one and a half story Tudor-style cottage wanted to redesign their existing kitchen, family room, and office to accommodate their family’s current and future lifestyle needs. The home simply did not function well for them in its current layout.

With the original floor plan severely separating all three rooms and causing the first floor space to feel disjointed, the main goal of this project was to create an open-concept layout that improved the flow of the home. They also wanted to update the kitchen amenities and finishes while adding a new wood-burning fireplace. In addition, it was important to the homeowners that the new construction blended seamlessly with their existing home.

OUR CREATIVE SOLUTION

Blackline Renovations started by removing the two dividing walls that separated the kitchen from the family room and their home office. This immediately opened up the space on the first floor. The design also necessitated a small addition to create the proper flow. A flush wood-burning fireplace was included as part of the 70-square foot addition in order to maximize the floor area.

With the room-dividing walls removed and more square footage added, the floorplan allowed for easier access to the kitchen and family room. The kitchen was completely remodeled and a newly installed wood-burning fireplace was encased in hand-selected Calcutta gold marble and designed with a custom wood mantel.

Keeping within this family’s initial project budget, we designed the floor plan with two large cased openings—one in each existing wall that divided the three separate rooms. This allowed for an improved flow and visibility without having to make any major structural changes.

As construction began, the homeowners understood that their lifestyle would be greatly enhanced, and the overall design aesthetic would be better integrated into the space, if the walls were completely removed. Consequently, we revised the floorplan to remove the two large cased openings. The homeowners also expressed a strong desire to avoid any visible support beams in the new great room. To accomplish this, we had to alter the roofline from a hip to gable style in order to fully recess the support beams into the ceiling.

To ensure the new gable roof blended with the original construction of the home, we mimicked the design of the existing stucco gable at the detached garage with new siding for added durability and easy maintenance. The result? The homeowners were thrilled with their new space!

Project Details

Type of flooring: 2-1/4″ white oak flooring handscraped across the grain

Fireplace tile: Honed SPUI Premium Calacatta Gold with Bright White Custom Building Products Pro Fusion grout

Fireplace: Heatilator Birmingham 42″ wood burning fireplace

Countertops: 3cm Levantina Taj Mahal Leathered Quartzite with eased edge detail & 2″ thick flat grain walnut island top using 4″ wide planks

Paint color: Wall/Ceiling Color: Benjamin Moore OC-17 White Dove (Satin)

APPLIANCES

Range: Wolf GR364G 36″ Gas Range with 4 burners and infrared griddle. Microwave – Wolf MD24TE/S 24″ Transitional

Drawer Microwave, Stainless Steel Refrigerator: Wolf BI-42UFD/S/PH 42″ Built-in French Door

Refrigerator/Freezer, Stainless with Pro Handles Vent Hood Liner: Faber Maestrale 10 600cfm Professional Wall Range Hood, Stainless Steel

PLUMBING FIXTURES

Sink: White Kohler Whitehaven Self-trimming Smart Divide Double-Bowl Undermount

Faucet: Polished Nickel Rohl Michael Berman 1-hole Single Lever Handle Pull-down

Project Location

Explore More of Blackline’s Home Additions

Awards

2024 Best of Houzz Service

Multiple-year winner:
2015, 2016, 2017,
2018, 2019, 2020,
2021, 2023 & 2024

Best of 2024 Home Remodeler - Dallas Architect.org
Best of 2023 Design Firm - Home Builder Digest
2024 Best of Houzz Design

Multiple-year winner:
2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024

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Look what Dallas homeowners are saying about Blackline!

“I am likely to recommend Blackline Renovations to a friend because my client is very responsive, innovative, and they're terrific at doing large jobs as well as small jobs.”

— Customer in Dallas, TX
from Guild Quality

“I used Blackline Renovations for a long overdue remodel of my kitchen, laundry, and living room areas. I had talked to a few companies over the years prior to meeting with Blackline. Having had a bad experience 3 years before, I was reluctant to start the process again. Chris and his team seemed different. They were knowledgeable, organized, and seemed excited about the prospects of turning my 1961 kitchen into something I could enjoy and be proud of. This would turn out to be a down to the studs renovation for approx. 50% of my house. Projects of this scope and duration are never without inconvenience, but it went smoother than anticipated. From design (I only had a general idea of what I wanted; few details), to project management, to execution, I can’t think of anything I would change. The end result is beautiful. The people were great to work with, and the results exceeded my expectations. Chris, Taff, and Jennifer listen and clearly care about the work they do.”

— Glen L.
from Houzz

“Blackline delivered a fabulous renovation of our kitchen and den. From design to plan to execution to cleanup, the whole team went above and beyond. The 8-month project was completed on-time and within budget. The quality of the craftsmanship is excellent. We are extremely pleased with the beautiful new space and would highly recommend Blackline.”

— Stacy C.
from Google

“We highly recommend Blackline Renovations. Chris, Taff and Jennifer are true professionals. They are responsive, organized, creative and made our bathroom renovation a seamless process. They went above and beyond. If you are looking to do some renovations look no further. We’re looking forward to working with Blackline again.”

— Elizabeth L.
from Google

“I used Blackline Renovations for a long overdue remodel of my kitchen, laundry, and living room areas. I had talked to a few companies over the years prior to meeting with Blackline. Having had a bad experience 3 years before, I was reluctant to start the process again. Chris and his team seemed different. They were knowledgeable, organized, and seemed excited about the prospects of turning my 1961 kitchen into something I could enjoy and be proud of. This would turn out to be a down to the studs renovation for approx. 50% of my house. Projects of this scope and duration are never without inconvenience, but it went smoother than anticipated. From design (I only had a general idea of what I wanted; few details), to project management, to execution, I can’t think of anything I would change. The end result is beautiful. The people were great to work with, and the results exceeded my expectations. Chris, Taff, and Jennifer listen and clearly care about the work they do.”
“I chose Blackline because of a strong recommendation from my daughter. I saw first hand the quality of the work and the attention to detail that Blackline delivers. During our renovation, Blackline kept us informed every step of the way. We were not living in Dallas during that time but we knew what was being done and saw photos of the progress. We had great peace of mind.”

— Darlene & Bill S.

“Chris and his team were always very professional. The scheduling, design and craftsmanship was exactly what I hoped for. I would not hesitate to use Blackline Renovations again and recommend them to friends and family.”

— Joel B.
from Houzz

“We used Blackline for two separate projects over the span of one year, and are thrilled with the results from both projects! Blackline did a kitchen/bath/laundry room remodel, as well as a back deck construction and we couldn’t be happier with the results. The Blackline team was very communicative, knowledgeable and overall great to work with. Would use and recommend them again.”

— Jaime G.
from Houzz

“Blackline Renovations did an outstanding job on my kitchen and master bed/bath remodel. What set them apart was their attention to detail on every aspect of the project. We would meet at my house on a weekly basis to review what we completed the previous week and what was on the to-do list for the upcoming week. It was very helpful to be consistently informed on the work of the project which kept any surprises to a minimum. The team was extremely professional, knowledgable, and courteous. They went above and beyond to make sure I was satisfied with the project all along the way. The quality of work was fantastic. They did not cut corners and kept to the scheduled timeline. I would highly recommend Blackline Renovations.”

— H.D.
from Houzz

“Chris Black and his team took it down to the studs to renovate the kitchen, master closet and new laundry. We also enclosed a porch, refinished the floors throughout, added attic insulation and poured a new driveway for our 1929 cottage. He was great to work with and had excellent weekly communication. We appreciated that he was very well organized and stayed on budget. I highly recommend him and I will use his company again.”
from Houzz

“Blackline Renovations renovated a guest bathroom for our home two years ago. We were and have been very satisfied with their work. Chris Black was professional every step of the way. We were satisfied with keeping to the timeline and budget. I was especially impressed with Blackline’s subcontractors. Everyone did a great job. We would definitely use Chris for future projects and have recommended him to many in our neighborhood.”

— T. S.

“The team has been fantastic and easy to work with. They bring all decisions to me and communicate clearly. The team is always available for concerns and questions. I am constantly updated on the project and workers. Best experience ever!”

— Paige M.

“The completed project looks amazing and could not be any better. Each person we dealt with was very professional, courteous, and they worked with us to make everything as easy as possible. Working with them was super easy and the final product was impeccable.”

— G.M.

“The entire process from initial meeting, design, bid out of costs and actual construction was flawless. We were looking for a turn key contractor and we found it with Chris Black — with the added bonus of very high quality workmanship. We valued Chris’ input on design and construction, his experience gave us confidence. Once we got started, the communication of each phase of the process was detailed, timely. Our quality standards are high — and Chris met each one of them. AND came to the table of with solutions to each problem. We loved that he personally got involved and connected to our project.”

– L.K.

“I’d never lived through a remodeling project, but I’d been warned about it. And in our initial meeting, Chris Black didn’t sugar coat it. He said life would be tough at first, but that I’d love the final product. He was right. We communicated well and often from the initial planning stages, through demolition and construction, and during the final details. Chris gave sound advice, but didn’t flinch when I made unexpected changes. He stayed within his initial cost estimate. The project took longer than expected—but for good reason, and Chris kept me well-informed daily. I love my new kitchen and bath. And while I can’t yet afford my next project, I’ve already talked with Chris about it and look forward to the day it becomes reality. I’ll be a return customer.”

— D.F.

“Chris Black did an excellent job on our garage project. Chris was very professional, attentive to our requests—including the changes we made during the project—and kept us informed on a daily basis of what had happened and what was to come next. Overall, the project went very well, was completed in a timely manner and to our satisfaction. I would recommend him to anyone looking to do new construction or a remodel.”

— B.G.

“Chris Black did an excellent job of keeping me informed of my project at all times. The paperwork was clear and easy to understand. My needs were understood clearly and the end result was exactly what I wanted. I would definitely recommend Chris Black to any of my friends. I love my kitchen… it looks great!”

— M.D.

“I thoroughly enjoyed working with Chris. I felt informed at all stages of the process, and felt as if he truly cared about my satisfaction with the job. Chris was always available to discuss any questions or concerns I had. The process was as painless as I can imagine it could be, and I’m thrilled with the result.”

— A.M.

“I like [Chris Black] a lot, and found his approach quite refreshing. Even more, he followed up consistently and made me feel he wanted the job. I would recommend Chris Black to anyone who would ask. I definitely appreciated all of the efforts that made this a pleasant experience. I hope we will have another opportunity to work together in the future.” 

— J.E.

“Chris Black and his team fit the bill for my bathroom remodel. Chris Black was very hands on and kept me informed regularly. He managed his subs accordingly and was very flexible with my decision process and change requests. The project took longer than anticipated, but you can’t rush perfection. I would recommend Chris Black to others seeking professional rebuild/remodel projects.”

— J.T.

“From day one, Chris Black was courteous, fair and professional. They went out of their way to understand what I wanted, then delivered the project early and under budget. I would recommend them to any of my friends or family that are looking for an honest, straightforward and professional contractor.”

— A.D.

“Chris Black was very knowledgeable and professional in all areas of our remodeling. He was open to our ideas, questions, and suggestions and worked very hard to find ways to accommodate any of our special requests. He had a good relationship with all his subcontractors, and I feel that helped make the job go more smoothly and keep us on our timeline. We love our new kitchen, half-bath, and updated ceilings and floors in all downstairs rooms! I will definitely call Chris when I ever need more remodeling work done.”

— C.N.

“Chris Black was thoroughly professional. The project was completed on time, on budget, and with the highest possible quality of professionalism. The few minor problems that were encountered were handled quickly and completely. If I do any building or projects in the future, I’m calling them.”

— A.S. & H.S.

“Strangers coming into your home to rip out walls and fixtures and then to rebuild a large portion of your house is unsettling. But Chris made the process smooth and user friendly. We will have them back for more projects. The quality of the work was excellent and the outcome pleased us no end. They know what they are doing…and they let you in on all the decisions and the step-by-step process. You never feel out of control with them. It was most comfortable working with these guys.”

— J.C. & M.S.

4849 Greenville Ave.
Suite 1330
Dallas, TX 75206
Ph: (214) 827-3747

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Proudly Serving the Following

Dallas, Texas Neighborhoods

Bluffview, East White Rock Lake, Farmers Branch/Hockaday, Forest Hills, Highland Park, Hollywood Heights, Lake Highlands, Lower Greenville, North Dallas, North Dallas, Northwest Dallas, Oak Lawn, Preston Hollow, Royal Oaks, University Park, Uptown, West Dallas, West White Rock Lake

Hours:

Monday 9AM–5PM
Tuesday 9AM–5PM
Wednesday 9AM–5PM
Thursday 9AM–5PM
Friday 9AM–5PM
Saturday Closed
Sunday Closed