WHAT WE DO
A Space That Makes
People Exhale
Maria and Douglas came to Brown Dog with a vision to gut-renovate their kitchen and dining room — uniting them into one treasured living space. Every idea was heard, explored, and elevated.
Working with reclaimed oak floors, hand-hewn wood beams salvaged from a Connecticut barn, a custom cement sink, and a hand-poured cement center island, George and his team brought a warm, textural richness to the space that photographs can barely do justice.
Four years after the original project, the Sweeneys invited Brown Dog back to design and build a family room addition off the kitchen — adding more reclaimed wood beams and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the backyard beautifully. Their return says everything about the relationship.
Every crew member who entered the home was respectful, professional, and a pleasure to have around. The project was completed on time, with a smooth process from start to finish — something rare in home renovation.
August 2025 · New Canaan, CT
Project Photography
Inside the Finished Space
what we did
Scope of Work
Structural & Framing
Removed load-bearing wall between kitchen and dining room. Reclaimed Connecticut barn beams installed as structural and design elements throughout both project phases.
Kitchen Renovation
Full gut renovation — custom cabinetry, hand-poured cement island, cement farmhouse sink, refurbished original oak floors, and all new appliances throughout.
Family Room Addition
800+ sq ft addition off the kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, reclaimed beam ceiling detail, and radiant heated floors throughout.
Mechanical & Electrical
Full electrical upgrade for kitchen — new lighting plan with recessed and pendant fixtures, under-cabinet lighting, and new HVAC zones for the addition.
Finishes & Millwork
Custom trim package, shiplap accent walls, and integrated built-in shelving flanking the new fireplace in the family room addition.
Windows & Doors
Andersen 400-series window installation throughout. Custom exterior door package coordinated with the home's existing architecture and materials.
CLIENT STORY
It is with great pleasure and the truest praise that we share our story about working with Brown Dog Construction.
We first hired Brown Dog to gut-renovate our kitchen and dining room, uniting them into one treasured space. From the refurbished oak floors to the reclaimed wood beams, the cement sink, and the hand-poured cement center island, no idea was left undiscussed. From the moment we met George and Justin, our creative ideas and thoughts were supported-and with their expertise, our dreams came to life. They did not just execute our ideas – they elevated them. They each brought thoughtful suggestions that made the final design even better than we imagined. The end result was stunning: a warm and welcoming space that makes people exhale upon entering. These are the spaces where we now spend our happiest moments. They transformed how we live in our home.
Working with Brown Dog once simply was not enough. Four years after our first project, we asked them back to design and build an addition off the kitchen, expanding our family room. More reclaimed wood beams were added, and stunning windows from floor to ceiling grounded the space beautifully. Their attention to detail was admirable, even the smallest elements were thoughtfully considered and beautifully executed.
It is no overstatement to say how pleasant George, Justin, and their entire team were to work with. They kept constant and open communication with us throughout the projects. The work was completed on time, with a smooth process from start to finish ~ something rare in home renovation. Every crew member who came into our home was respectful, professional, and a pleasure to have around.
The spaces created by Brown Dog were thoughtful and intelligent. It has truly been a blessing to find them, and we’ll look no further when updating future spaces.
We sincerely and wholeheartedly recommend George, Justin, and the entire Brown Dog team.
Maria & Douglas S.
Kitchen & Family Room Addition
S
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