Some houses just need a little love.

John and Marilynn Churchill knew that. In fact, they were open to a remodeling project when they began house hunting.

More than anything, they longed for a home with a dramatic view.

Quickly, there was a front runner, a 1949 rambler in Everett, built by a longtime local plumber.

Its construction was undeniably sturdy. Efficient hydronic under-floor radiant heating, original to the house, ran throughout the home. And the view, well, it was hard to resist, boasting nearly 180 degrees of unobstructed panorama overlooking Possession Sound and Port Gardner.

It was enough to convince John Churchill, who was skeptical of the home at first, to go for it.

"We kept coming back to it," Marilynn Churchill said, feeling ever confident they could give the humble home new life. "I said, 'Trust me.'" Instead of rushing into a remodel, however, they lived in the home about six months to get a feel for the flow, and their use of its spaces and view.

When it came time to remodel, the Churchills, who have remodeled homes throughout their 25 years of marriage, didn't just give the old rambler a little love.

They gave it quite a lot.

Today, their home is a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, featuring all the conveniences of a modern existence amid a large collection of traditional furnishings.

The Churchills partnered with City Builders, a remodeling company in Lynnwood specializing in upscale makeovers.

They modernized the home with all kinds of basics, such as new windows and wiring. They also upgraded the property with two large additions: one for a formal dining room, great for entertaining when their five grown children visit; and one for a large master bedroom.

They recast the exterior of the home with two dramatic new gables that allowed higher ceilings inside, as well as a large entrance.

Their kitchen, laden with knotty alder cabinets and exquisite molding, is one of their favorite rooms.

Not only does it afford breathtaking views of both the Olympic Mountains and the Cascades, but it's also a work of art.

Like many high-end remodeling projects, it prominently features granite. But the stone the Churchills chose is far from typical.

Though they could have selected a homogenous slab with consistent colors and particle formations, they instead opted for a dramatic sweeping pattern with large swirls and variations in color, a Jackson Pollock in the world of granites.

It couldn't be more appropriate for the tone of the large kitchen or the rustic look of the cabinets.

John Churchill credits his wife for the home's luxurious and appropriate colors, textures and surfaces.

"She's got a great knack," he said. "She has a vision."

Gordon "Gordy" Gregg, owner of City Builders, said the Churchills knew what they wanted but were open to his ideas, too.

He's particularly proud of his design and craftsmanship on the marble range hood, featuring large corbels, intricate detail work and copper accents, a project he took special time out to do, with some help from a tile setter.

"I actually love to work with my hands," Gregg said. "All of the stone components in that were all made at the site."

This isn't just a home with a killer kitchen, however. Many of the rooms are design showcases.

In the living room, just off the kitchen, they had the walls painted with a rustic faux finish, added cozy furnishings and had the fireplace surround rebuilt, another handmade creation by Gregg.

Near their new master bedroom, they turned two side-by-side bathrooms into one master bath with travertine tile in a walk-in shower. Built-in cabinets surround the marble-topped vanities.

The partially finished basement, once home to a large, heated underground garage and shop, also has some dramatic changes, including a TV lounge area, a lavish bar trimmed with wood and stone, a rec room and a wine cellar.

Two new bedrooms have taken the place of the old underground garage, including one for their daughter, Chelsea, 23.

Chelsea's bathroom has a definite retro look, thanks to the home's original turquoise tub, toilet and pedestal sink, repurposed in a whole new setting.

"They were in perfect condition," Marilynn Churchill said. "They're not chipped or anything."

Marilynn Churchill, who says she's a decorating-magazine junkie, played off the look with white tiles accented by a border of floral-themed tiles in turquoise.

An old Good Housekeeping magazine cover reinforces the mood, along with salvaged chrome fixtures.

"We had a lot of fun doing it," John Churchill said of the entire remodeling project. "We like picking things out together."

Though the Churchills had to move out for about nine months during the whole-house project, they say it was completely worth it.

"It's an extremely comfortable, livable house," he said, as she added: "We love it."

Reporter Sarah Jackson: 425-339-3037 or sjackson@heraldnet.com.

Published: Thursday, March 15, 2007

Labels: fixers, northwest real estate, remodeling