Des Moines Two-Story Addition & Remodel

This project is the fullest expression of what Timberbrook Builders does: design-to-build, start to finish. The clients came to us with a craftsman home they loved but had outgrown. They needed more space, a kitchen that worked for how they actually cooked, and a primary suite that felt less like a bedroom and more like somewhere they actually wanted to be. They got all of that, and a home that looks like it was always exactly this.

We handled every phase in-house, from initial design through permitting, construction, and finish work. That included full 3D exterior renderings, floor plan development, and room-by-room design boards for the kitchen, ensuite, and remodeling two existing bathrooms.

The Addition

The project started with a two-story addition off the rear of the home. We used helical piers for the foundation, built a sealed and insulated crawlspace, framed the full two-story structure with Zip sheathing, and put in black exterior windows throughout. The roof was replaced across the entire home and to create a unified roofline. LP Smart Side lap siding and cedar shake were installed and painted to match the existing exterior. The addition reads as original, not tacked on.

Building science was a priority, not an afterthought. Rockwool insulation in the walls hits R23. The attic got R59 blown-in. Spray foam sealed every penetration and crack, finished with a Siga interior smart vapor barrier. Most contractors skip this work. We don't. The result is a house that performs as well as it looks.

Kitchen

The original kitchen was closed off, dark, and dated. We opened it to the main living area and rebuilt it from scratch. Birch shaker cabinets in grey, unlacquered brass hardware throughout. White quartz counters run the full perimeter and across the new peninsula. The teal ribbed tile backsplash runs wall to wall, wrapping around the window and range, anchoring the whole space. It's a bold call. The clients committed to it completely, and it's the right one.

New craftsman beams frame the kitchen-to-living connection. Herringbone white oak flooring runs through the kitchen, entry, and dining areas, precision work that ties the entire main floor together.

Primary Suite

The second floor addition was built to create a primary suite and give the existing second floor bathroom more space. Spacious bedroom with a walk-in closet, new black windows, recessed lighting, ceiling fan. We installed bamboo hardwood floors in the existing bedroom and made sure the trim matched the original craftsman style.

The ensuite is the standout space. Large format slate hexagon tile on the floor. Frameless glass walk-in shower with white vertical tile and a built-in niche. Freestanding double vanity with a walnut-stained cabinet, white quartz top, and dual oval lighted mirrors. Brushed gold and matte black fixtures throughout. Floral wallpaper on the accent wall pulls the spa feeling together without competing with the craftsman millwork on the doors and windows.

Secondary Bathroom

The secondary bathroom got the same design rigor as the ensuite, just a quieter palette. New hex tile floors, frameless glass shower door, single vanity with black cabinet and brushed gold fixtures. Same design board process. Complementary finishes, not matching ones.

Mudroom

The entry dropzone was the most-requested feature of the project. We designed and built a custom corner L-shaped bench in dark-stained oak, with open shoe cubbies below and coat hooks above, fitted precisely to the existing bay window configuration. The millwork matches the home's original craftsman trim exactly. New black windows flood the entry with natural light. The herringbone flooring carries through from the kitchen. The mudroom feels like part of the house, not a transition zone.

Trim, Paint & Finish Work

All trim throughout the addition was designed and built to match craftsman profiles from the original home. Paint is high-quality low-VOC throughout: flat ceiling, client-selected wall colors by room.

The Result

This is a home that works at every level: energy-efficient, finely detailed, designed around the people who live in it. The addition reads as original. The finishes carry through room to room without repetition. The clients have a space that reflects how they actually live. That's the standard we hold every project to.