When you visit Susan Forrest’s home in Sturgeon, Mo., you are immediately aware that you have entered into an artist’s haven. And when she needed to remodel her home, Susan wanted a remodeler who could create a functional, yet imaginative space for her work. That remodeler was Kerry Bramon, CGR of Kerry Bramon Remodeling and Design.

The key to the remodel was in the design. Susan worked closely with in-house designer Angela Holloway, ASID to create the space she wanted. Beginning with floor plans and perspectives, the two discussed materials and were able to work out many details. Sitting at the computer, changes could be made onscreen and visualized before any construction began.

Initially, Forrest was interested in fixing up her two bathrooms. One was in need of total renovation, while the other bathroom needed to be adapted for handicap accessibility for Susan’s elderly mother. In this bath, the Bramon crew widened the doorway and adapted the shower for wheelchair use. They utilized space from an existing closet by moving walls, and a tunnel skylight was created to bathe the room in natural sunlight.

Using some of the floor space from the adjoining bedroom, the master bath was enlarged. By moving the wall, a contemporary step-in shower with a seat and handrail were added. A large bay window surrounds a jetted tub, allowing for spacious views of the outside.

The Bramon crew also removed the walls that separated the living and dining rooms and supported the roof. In addition, they vaulted the southern half of the roof and added three skylights in the new living area to bring in more natural light.

To integrate the space together, large ceramic tiles were diagonally set to amplify the scale of the new room. The natural, airy look is carried over by the celery-colored walls and rich wood cabinetry, which complements the various styles of artwork on the walls. The cozy living area boasts an entertainment center, a window seat and ample storage. Outlets were placed in the floor to allow a flexible seating plan and clean look free of cords.

By taking out the walls, the kitchen area was opened up and renovated. Additionally, a wider profile was created to adapt the kitchen for senior living, and the appliances were positioned below wide Silkstone counter tops to allow for a wheelchair-bound person to operate them.

While most people can think of their own reasons to renovate, Susan Forrest began the remodeling process to accommodate for her mother who came to live with her toward the end of the project. And while her mother did not live long afterward to truly enjoy the changes in the home, Susan decided that she will continue to live there. Whether she’s sewing a quilt, gardening, painting or watching her grandchildren, Susan Forrest now has a creative and unique place to truly call her own.

As a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, Kerry Bramon, owner of Kerry Bramon Remodeling & Design, entered the construction business in 1977. In 1996, Kerry achieved the Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR) designation granted by the National Association of Home Builders. He has served as past president of the Home Builders Association of Columbia, the Columbia Remodelers Council, and serves on the advisory board for the Columbia chapter of Habitat for Humanity. [ return to top ]