Sick of papers piling up on a dining room table you haven’t used since Thanksgiving? Homeowner and designer Nisha Tailor of Nisha Tailor Interior Design knew the feeling; she broke from tradition with a posh lounge outfitted in a contemporary mix of textures and styles.

After finding the perfect place to call home, Nick and Olga Mandis quickly realized that their nonfunctional kitchen would need to undergo a floor-to-ceiling renovation to echo the welcoming warmth and historic beauty of their Mediterranean heritage. The cozy 195-square-foot entertaining space now brings the growing family together and boasts exquisite detail inspired by the couple’s Greek roots.

Short on functionality and lacking warmth, Susie Knopf’s Clayton high-rise was overdue for a reboot in late 2014. The 2,500-square-foot space now pops with charm from a rustic floor-to-ceiling renovation that includes two fireplaces.

“The unit was very dated,” says Susie, “and, being an interior designer, I wanted a different style and needed to have more storage and open up the space.”

It started the same way many renovation projects start… with a simple desire to switch up some accessories and freshen up the lower level. But this renovation story quickly took a different turn. “We started dreaming, and once we started dreaming it turned into a whole remodel,” says designer CJ Knapp, who recently formed her own interior design firm Yours By Design.

The Butlers knew a thing or two about basement renovation; a decade ago they’d transformed their prior home’s cellar into an impressive entertainment complex. They were happy with the finished product, but hadn’t used the space as planned. “It was more for entertaining than living,” explains Kelly Butler. When she and Brian were ready to finish the lower level of their new turn-of-this-century home, they called on husband-wife duo Jeanne and Keith Liston of Liston Construction to take 3,350 unfinished square feet from wasted space to true multipurpose living for the family’s diverse needs.

Known for traditional style, designer Tom Manche of Tom Manche Interiors in Clayton is still game for letting a client’s desires and individual tastes take him to new places. The key to ending up in a good spot is not just having a good eye, but in having his ears open too.