Set in a beautiful mountaintop location overlooking Lake Winnipesaukee, in Gilford, NH, this residential remodeling project focused on making the home’s existing main level work better for the homeowners’ everyday needs.

The original layout included a bedroom, office, and one large shared bathroom, but it did not offer the privacy or functionality of a dedicated primary suite. By thoughtfully reconfiguring these existing spaces, Lighthouse Contracting Group created a private retreat complete with a primary bedroom, spacious bathroom, and walk-in closet.

The remodel also introduced a powder room for guests and everyday common-area use, along with custom built-ins near the front entry for jackets, shoes, and other essentials. The result is a more intentional main-level layout that balances private comfort, shared functionality, and thoughtful storage without the need to expand the home’s existing footprint.

Location: Gilford, New Hampshire
Year Completed: 2026
Total Living Area: 3,993 sq ft
Timeline: 6 months
House Style: Contemporary
Design Build Team: Lighthouse Contracting Group + Backdrop Interior Design
Project Type: Private Primary Suite Remodel

Challenges and Opportunities

The primary challenge – and greatest opportunity – was working within the home’s existing footprint.

Creating a complete primary suite required our team to carefully reconsider how the bedroom, office, bathroom, hallway, and entry spaces connected. The new layout needed to provide a clear sense of privacy without making the surrounding common areas feel disconnected or sacrificing essential functions.

Dividing the original shared bathroom into a private primary bathroom and separate powder room required thoughtful planning around plumbing, fixtures, storage, and circulation. Features such as a recessed pocket door and curbless shower entry helped preserve usable space and improve the overall flow of the bathroom.

The former office presented another opportunity. Rather than maintaining a room that was no longer serving the homeowners’ needs, it was transformed into a dedicated walk-in closet with a complete storage system and central island. This allowed the primary suite to gain substantial storage while keeping the bedroom open and uncluttered.

Throughout the remodel, our team looked beyond the individual rooms and considered how the entire main level could function more naturally as one connected space.

Goals

The goals of the Mountaintop Project were to:

• Create a complete and private primary suite on the home’s main level.
• Optimize the existing footprint rather than construct an addition.
• Improve the flow between the primary bedroom, bathroom, and walk-in closet.
• Provide a separate powder room that could be accessed from the common area.
• Incorporate more organized storage for clothing, shoes, jackets, and everyday belongings.
• Introduce bathroom features that support comfort, accessibility, and long-term use.
• Update the remodeled spaces so they feel cohesive with the rest of the home.
• Create a calm, functional retreat that complements the home’s mountaintop setting.

Design Inspiration

The home’s elevated setting and views of Lake Winnipesaukee helped inspire a design that feels peaceful, refined, and connected to its surroundings.

Clean lines, floating fixtures, continuous flooring, and thoughtfully integrated storage keep the remodeled spaces feeling open and uncluttered. Rather than filling the primary suite with unnecessary details, the design focuses on features that improve the homeowners’ daily routines.
The bathroom combines the comfort of radiant heat with the simplicity of a curbless shower, recessed medicine cabinets, and a spacious double vanity. In the walk-in closet, a central storage island creates an organized, boutique-like experience while maximizing the room’s full potential.

Together, these elements create a private retreat that feels both elevated and approachable—an ideal match for a home overlooking one of New Hampshire’s most defining landscapes.

Common-Area Powder Room

The original layout included one large shared bathroom. As part of the remodel, that space was redesigned to accommodate both the new private primary bathroom and a smaller powder room for common-area use.

The powder room includes a floating vanity and floating toilet, creating a streamlined appearance while keeping more of the floor visible. This helps the compact room feel open, clean, and easy to navigate.

Custom Primary Bathroom

The new primary bathroom was designed around comfort, accessibility, and organized storage.

A recessed pocket door eliminates the clearance required by a traditional swinging door and creates a smoother transition into the room. Radiant heat beneath the tile floor adds everyday comfort, particularly during New Hampshire’s colder months.

The custom tiled shower features a curbless entry, creating a clean visual transition while making the shower easier to enter. A built-in storage cabinet and two recessed medicine cabinets provide convenient storage without adding unnecessary bulk to the room.

A double bowl vanity gives each homeowner a dedicated sink and personal space while helping busy morning and evening routines feel more organized.

Spacious Walk-In Closet

The former office was transformed into a dedicated walk-in closet designed to make clothing and accessories easier to organize and access.

A complete closet system takes advantage of the room’s available wall space, while an island in the center provides additional drawers, surface space, and storage. Converting the office into a walk-in closet allowed the homeowners to gain the storage they needed while maintaining a spacious, uncluttered primary bedroom.

Updated Primary Bedroom

The primary bedroom received updated flooring selected to match the surrounding areas and create a seamless transition throughout the suite.

By keeping the bedroom finishes cohesive and allowing the walk-in closet to handle most of the storage, the room now feels calm, comfortable, and distinctly separate from the home’s common areas.

Front Entry Built-Ins

Custom built-ins were added near the front entrance to provide a designated place for shoes, coats, and other everyday items.

This storage helps prevent clutter from moving into the home’s main living spaces while making arrivals and departures more convenient. It is a practical feature that supports the larger goal of creating a better-organized and more functional main level.

Cody MacPherson, NARI Certified Professional

Cody led the Mountaintop Project with a thoughtful approach, careful attention to detail, and a clear focus on making the most of the home’s existing layout. His leadership was especially important as the team reconfigured several connected spaces to create a private primary suite while maintaining functionality throughout the main level.

With a degree in Architectural Engineering and Design from NHTI Concord’s Community College and experience across carpentry, concrete, roofing, and siding, Cody brings both technical knowledge and hands-on expertise to every project. At the Mountaintop Project, he worked closely with the homeowners, trade partners, and Lighthouse team to coordinate each phase of the remodel and ensure the finished spaces felt cohesive, comfortable, and tailored to the clients’ needs.

“We had a compact but critical remodel project that Lighthouse executed beautifully. From fitting in the features we wanted (including creating a powder room to enable the new master suite to incorporate the math bathroom space), to sequencing in all the skilled trades, it was a top notch, professional team from start to finish. Good communication, excellent craftsmanship, clean and careful treatment of our home, and excellent sourcing to match our home’s existing fit and finish-they did it all and we are very happy customers!”

-Elizabeth Boland

Located on the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, this 1997 Cape-style home underwent a complete transformation into a timeless legacy home for a family seeking comfort, beauty, and year-round living. The 13-month renovation updated 7,500 square feet of living space, with refined craftsmanship, elevated finishes, and thoughtful design throughout. The homeowners wanted a high-end, turn-key experience with a single point of contact. Lighthouse Contracting Group delivered—collaborating with Backdrop Interior Design to bring this Gilford NH luxury home renovation to life.

Location: Gilford, NH
Year Completed: 2025
Total Renovated SF: 7,500+
Timeline: 13 months
Home Style: Cape, built 1997
Purchased: 2015
Design Build Team: Lighthouse Contracting Group + Backdrop Interior Design
Lead Carpenter: Cody MacPherson, Certified NARI Professional
Project Type: Whole home renovation

Client Goals

After years of living between two homes, the clients chose to make Gilford, NH, their full-time residence. They sought to update their lakefront property to better reflect their style—moving away from orange-toned wood and dated layouts. With retirement approaching, their goal was a home that felt like theirs: elegant but comfortable, stunning yet livable. They wanted a team they could trust to handle the entire process—from planning and selections to construction and final finishes.

Design Inspiration

The homeowners desired a timeless aesthetic—avoiding trends but embracing color, warmth, and curated details. From nickel gap ceilings and wainscoting to custom cabinetry and layered lighting, the home blends craftsmanship with a relaxed, lived-in feel.

Lake Living

With panoramic views of Lake Winnipesaukee from nearly every key living space, this renovation maximized connection to the outdoors. New window and slider configurations flood the home with natural light and invite the lakefront landscape in—enhancing daily living and weekend entertaining alike.

The lower-level bar provides quick access from the lake, while the elevated deck and custom patio areas create serene spaces to enjoy the natural beauty and changing seasons. Whether hosting guests or unwinding with family, every detail of this home was designed to complement its lakeside setting.

Key Home Remodel Features:

• Front Entry: Custom double French doors from LePage Millwork, framed by Blue Mist patio stone and pedestal posts with seamless stone caps.
• Kitchen: Redesigned layout with DuraSupreme cabinetry, Thermador refrigerator/freezer columns, and a custom coffee bar with pot filler. Natural light maximized through new window and slider configurations.
• Dining Nook: Inset pine ceiling with a black metal 11-light linear chandelier creates a cozy focal point.
• Flooring: Hallmark Floors engineered hardwood oak throughout.
• Living Room: Vaulted ceiling and open floor plan enhance flow and lake views.
• Primary Suite: Tray ceiling with up-lighting, white oak stained insert, and a spa-like bathroom. Features include radiant heat tile floors, Artistic Tile mosaic feature wall, Kohler soaking tub, and his-and-hers vanities with integrated outlets and lighting.
• Lower Level: Includes a custom home office with a Dekton countertop shelf mirroring the countersplash in the bar, direct lake access, gym, additional bathrooms, and laundry.
• Fireplace: Stone veneer surround with Dekton hearth.

5 Custom Bathrooms in This Gilford NH Luxury Home Renovation

This home features five fully remodeled bathrooms—each designed with its own identity while maintaining harmony throughout the house. The primary bathroom anchors the collection with a capiz shell chandelier, radiant heated floors, and Stella Day porcelain tile hexagons, but each of the remaining four bathrooms has its own distinctive look, layout, and palette. 

A guest bathroom evokes serene coastal tones with light blue shower tile and quartz counters. The powder room features bold Artistic Tile flooring, luxe wallpaper, and statement lighting. One bathroom incorporates a deep navy palette with fish scale mosaic accents and brushed nickel fixtures. The fifth bathroom stands out with brushed gold hardware, Dekton countertops, and matte black accessories—offering a modern, dramatic finish.

Each bathroom includes thoughtfully selected faucets, lighting, and tile patterns curated to reflect the purpose of the space and the personality of its users.

Millwork and Trim Details

This home’s trim details are a hallmark of our luxury remodels in Gilford, NH – adding texture, warmth, and timeless architectural interest.

• Nickel gap and vertical paneling
• Wainscoting and board-and-batten in multiple rooms
• Tray ceilings in rec room and yoga studio
• TruStile high-quality, made-to-order, well-designed interior doors

Cody MacPherson, NARI Certified Professional

Cody brings an expert eye and deep hands-on knowledge to every project he leads. With a degree in Architectural Engineering and Design from NHTI Concord’s Community College and a background spanning concrete, metal roofing, siding, and carpentry, Cody is known for delivering precision craftsmanship and overseeing complex renovations with care.

His passion for building and attention to detail were essential to the success of Lakeside Legacy—from managing trades to coordinating millwork installation and client communication. Homeowners and teammates alike trust Cody to bring vision to reality—seamlessly, skillfully, and with integrity.

“We give Lighthouse Contracting Group our highest endorsement. We love the whole house remodel they did for us—a huge project completed with respect for our time and budget. The Lighthouse team was collaborative and creative and helped us create a home that exceeded what we’d imagined. Their transparency and communication earned our faith and made the process a pleasure. Our stunningly beautiful home reflects their professionalism and pride in a job done right.”

-David & Taisha

Whole Home Renovation Recognition

This Gilford NH luxury home renovation—Lakeside Legacy—will be featured in the 2025 Lakes Region Parade of Homes as Lighthouse Contracting Group’s fourth entry to date.