Bill Mohr was up for the challenge of gutting his Smyrna condo.
“It was a foreclosure, so it was in rough shape,” he said. “I met with my contractor at the unit right after I left the closing table.”
Mohr, an interior designer, took the Waterford Place unit down to the bare bones. He started from scratch, creating a residence that is different from other renovated condos in the complex and reflects his style.
Snapshot
Resident: Bill Mohr and his dog, Mr. Rhett Butler
Location: Smyrna's Waterford Place community
Size: About 1,500 square feet, two bedrooms, two baths
Year built: 1983
Year bought: 2007
Architectural style: 1980s condo with traditional Grecian molding
Renovations: Removed the old marble flooring, vinyl floor and carpeting (it's now hardwood floors throughout most of the condo) as well as the bath vanities, toilets, tubs, kitchen cabinets and appliances. The renovations took five weeks. "My contractor and I would talk and I would say, 'OK, what do you need now?' and after work I would make sure I went to the store, bought what was needed, and had it at the job site so that nothing would slow things down."
Favorite architectural feature: "I love the great wood moldings throughout the home. I also love the large windows in the dining room, and although the dining room is in its own space, it still feels like it is part of the living room."
Interior design style: Soft modern. "People think of modern as cold, but it's not. I like straight lines and geometric forms, but I like a mixture of old with modern items. I have the wonderful opportunity to see some of the most beautiful designs and furniture in my profession, so I try to work in what I can afford or a close knock-off."
Interior designer: Mohr, who works full time as a residential interior designer, took on the challenge himself.
Favorite design feature: The lighting. Because of plumbing and ceiling clearance, there were only certain areas where he could place can lights. He used track lighting in the hallway and picture lights on the artwork to solve that challenge. In addition, the bathrooms had strange built-in fluorescent lights, he said. By taking them out and sheet-rocking the ceiling, he was able to install can lights in the bathrooms.
Favorite outdoor feature: The condos in Waterford Place have balconies with storage rooms, along with wooded views and green space between buildings. "We have 120 units here and we all have a feeling of privacy in the woods."
