You might call Aaron Hochstein and Megan Bengtson a dynamic duo. The newlywed couple make a great team as Hochstein has owned and operated Highrock Design. Build. Remodel for 11 years and Bengtson has been selling real estate as a Residential Realtor for 11 years.

The couple met through business networking and quickly found that they shared the same passion about real estate, home design, and style.

But there was one problem. When Hochstein built a home for himself in 2007 he built it with the ultimate bachelor pad design in mind. Enter Bengtson and her two Shih Tzu pups, Riley and Cooper. The couple knew that the space needed a drastic change that would fit their new lifestyle together.

The young professional couple had a vision in mind but enlisted the help of The Modern Hive to pull it all together. 

With the expertise of Hochstein’s contracting skills and Bengtson’s love of contemporary design, the bachelor pad was completely transformed to a space of modern elegance. A perfect fit for a young professional couple that loves to entertain.

Upon entering the home, eyes are quickly drawn from the entryway to the open floor plan. A contemporary living room boasts monochromatic tones of grey and white with pops of deep blues. Carpet was removed from the living room and wood flooring, sanded and re-stained in a dark coffee color, and was added to connect the open plan throughout. A fireplace anchors the living room, featuring floor to ceiling molding and a wavy light blue tile that outlines the fireplace.

Connected to the living room is the kitchen. The couple needed a functional space that allowed them to easily and comfortably prepare meals at the end of the day. The center island was re-configured from a raised bar height boomerang shape to a simple, clean lined rectangular counter height shape. The cabinets were painted in a bright white finish and glass display cabinets with crown molding were added to the upper cabinets to close the gap between the cabinet and ceiling. A new glass backsplash and hood vent were installed to complete the look.

The couple desired a space where they could relax and sip on a cocktail at the end of a busy day.  The basement was noted as the perfect spot for that. With a bar already built in, the basement was transformed by making a few notable changes. 

One design challenge was figuring out how to connect the brown tones of the basement to the light and airy color pallet of the main level. This was easily achieved by giving the bar a facelift and incorporating a white glass backsplash and white quartz counters that resembled the look of Carrera marble. Metallic tones in accent furniture, a white marble coffee table, two modern white chairs, and a luxurious blue and silver rug were also incorporated into the seating area to tie the space together. Pops of dark blue were added to the space with pillows and accessories, similar to the main level. Groupings of pillows, added to the long sectional sofa, gave new life and a new appreciation to the piece.

The journey to transform this bachelor pad to an elegant space resulted in a finished design that both Hochstein and Bengtson are proud to call their home.