Beth Singer
Example of a transitional l-shaped gray floor kitchen design in Detroit with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Our clients owned a secondary home in Bellevue and decided to do a major renovation as the family wanted to make this their main residence. A decision was made to add 3 bedrooms and an expanded large kitchen to the property. The homeowners were in love with whites and grays, and their idea was to create a soft modern look with transitional elements. We designed the kitchen layout to capitalize on the view and to meet all of the homeowners requirements. Large open plan kitchen lets in plenty of natural light and lots of space for their 3 boys to run around. We redesigned all the bathrooms, helped the clients with selection of all the finishes, materials, and fixtures for their new home.

This renovated brick rowhome in Boston’s South End offers a modern aesthetic within a historic structure, creative use of space, exceptional thermal comfort, a reduced carbon footprint, and a passive stream of income. DESIGN PRIORITIES. The goals for the project were clear - design the primary unit to accommodate the family’s modern lifestyle, rework the layout to create a desirable rental unit, improve thermal comfort and introduce a modern aesthetic. We designed the street-level entry as a shared entrance for both the primary and rental unit. The family uses it as their everyday entrance - we planned for bike storage and an open mudroom with bench and shoe storage to facilitate the change from shoes to slippers or bare feet as they enter their home. On the main level, we expanded the kitchen into the dining room to create an eat-in space with generous counter space and storage, as well as a comfortable connection to the living space. The second floor serves as master suite for the couple - a bedroom with a walk-in-closet and ensuite bathroom, and an adjacent study, with refinished original pumpkin pine floors. The upper floor, aside from a guest bedroom, is the child's domain with interconnected spaces for sleeping, work and play. In the play space, which can be separated from the work space with new translucent sliding doors, we incorporated recreational features inspired by adventurous and competitive television shows, at their son’s request. MODERN MEETS TRADITIONAL. We left the historic front facade of the building largely unchanged - the security bars were removed from the windows and the single pane windows were replaced with higher performing historic replicas. We designed the interior and rear facade with a vision of warm modernism, weaving in the notable period features. Each element was either restored or reinterpreted to blend with the modern aesthetic. The detailed ceiling in the living space, for example, has a new matte monochromatic finish, and the wood stairs are covered in a dark grey floor paint, whereas the mahogany doors were simply refinished. New wide plank wood flooring with a neutral finish, floor-to-ceiling casework, and bold splashes of color in wall paint and tile, and oversized high-performance windows (on the rear facade) round out the modern aesthetic. RENTAL INCOME. The existing rowhome was zoned for a 2-family dwelling but included an undesirable, single-floor studio apartment at the garden level with low ceiling heights and questionable emergency egress. In order to increase the quality and quantity of space in the rental unit, we reimagined it as a two-floor, 1 or 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment with a modern aesthetic, increased ceiling height on the lowest level and provided an in-unit washer/dryer. The apartment was listed with Jackie O'Connor Real Estate and rented immediately, providing the owners with a source of passive income. ENCLOSURE WITH BENEFITS. The homeowners sought a minimal carbon footprint, enabled by their urban location and lifestyle decisions, paired with the benefits of a high-performance home. The extent of the renovation allowed us to implement a deep energy retrofit (DER) to address air tightness, insulation, and high-performance windows. The historic front facade is insulated from the interior, while the rear facade is insulated on the exterior. Together with these building enclosure improvements, we designed an HVAC system comprised of continuous fresh air ventilation, and an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system to decouple the house from natural gas. This strategy provides optimal thermal comfort and indoor air quality, improved acoustic isolation from street noise and neighbors, as well as a further reduced carbon footprint. We also took measures to prepare the roof for future solar panels, for when the South End neighborhood’s aging electrical infrastructure is upgraded to allow them. URBAN LIVING. The desirable neighborhood location allows the both the homeowners and tenant to walk, bike, and use public transportation to access the city, while each charging their respective plug-in electric cars behind the building to travel greater distances. OVERALL. The understated rowhouse is now ready for another century of urban living, offering the owners comfort and convenience as they live life as an expression of their values. Eric Roth Photo

In Southern California there are pockets of darling cottages built in the early 20th century that we like to call jewelry boxes. They are quaint, full of charm and usually a bit cramped. Our clients have a growing family and needed a modern, functional home. They opted for a renovation that directly addressed their concerns. When we first saw this 2,170 square-foot 3-bedroom beach cottage, the front door opened directly into a staircase and a dead-end hallway. The kitchen was cramped, the living room was claustrophobic and everything felt dark and dated. The big picture items included pitching the living room ceiling to create space and taking down a kitchen wall. We added a French oven and luxury range that the wife had always dreamed about, a custom vent hood, and custom-paneled appliances. We added a downstairs half-bath for guests (entirely designed around its whimsical wallpaper) and converted one of the existing bathrooms into a Jack-and-Jill, connecting the kids’ bedrooms, with double sinks and a closed-off toilet and shower for privacy. In the bathrooms, we added white marble floors and wainscoting. We created storage throughout the home with custom-cabinets, new closets and built-ins, such as bookcases, desks and shelving. White Sands Design/Build furnished the entire cottage mostly with commissioned pieces, including a custom dining table and upholstered chairs. We updated light fixtures and added brass hardware throughout, to create a vintage, bo-ho vibe. The best thing about this cottage is the charming backyard accessory dwelling unit (ADU), designed in the same style as the larger structure. In order to keep the ADU it was necessary to renovate less than 50% of the main home, which took some serious strategy, otherwise the non-conforming ADU would need to be torn out. We renovated the bathroom with white walls and pine flooring, transforming it into a get-away that will grow with the girls.

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Sacramento

Example of a classic l-shaped dark wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in San Francisco with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Inspiration for a large cottage l-shaped light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen remodel in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, white countertops, an island and shaker cabinets

Living room - transitional living room idea in Grand Rapids

Inspiration for a laundry room remodel in Minneapolis

Photography by Ken Vaughan
Large elegant backyard stone patio kitchen photo in Dallas with a roof extension

Barry Grossman Photography
Example of a trendy white floor living room design in Miami with a ribbon fireplace

Large elegant medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen photo in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photo credit: www.parkscreative.com
Inspiration for a large timeless backyard stone patio remodel in Seattle with a fire pit

Example of a country laundry room design in Other

Simple clean design...in this master bathroom renovation things were kept in the same place but in a very different interpretation. The shower is where the exiting one was, but the walls surrounding it were taken out, a curbless floor was installed with a sleek tile-over linear drain that really goes away. A free-standing bathtub is in the same location that the original drop in whirlpool tub lived prior to the renovation. The result is a clean, contemporary design with some interesting "bling" effects like the bubble chandelier and the mirror rounds mosaic tile located in the back of the niche.

Hiding hair dryer and brushes in this grooming pull out cabinet with electrical on the inside to keep cords nice and neat!
Bathroom - mid-sized transitional master gray tile and porcelain tile porcelain tile bathroom idea in Chicago with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a two-piece toilet, gray walls, an undermount sink and quartz countertops

This bright dining room features a monumental wooden dining table with green leather dining chairs with black legs. The wall is covered in green grass cloth wallpaper. Close up photographs of wood sections create a dramatic artistic focal point on the dining area wall. Wooden accents throughout.

Rustic and modern design elements complement one another in this 2,480 sq. ft. three bedroom, two and a half bath custom modern farmhouse. Abundant natural light and face nailed wide plank white pine floors carry throughout the entire home along with plenty of built-in storage, a stunning white kitchen, and cozy brick fireplace. Photos by Tessa Manning

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   We went with a minimalist, clean, industrial look that feels light, bright and airy. The island is a dark charcoal with cool undertones that coordinates with the cabinetry and transom work in both the neighboring mudroom and breakfast area. White subway tile, quartz countertops, white enamel pendants and gold fixtures complete the update. The ends of the island are shiplap material that is also used on the fireplace in the next room. In the new mudroom, we used a fun porcelain tile on the floor to get a pop of pattern, and walnut accents add some warmth. Each child has their own cubby, and there is a spot for shoes below a long bench. Open shelving with spots for baskets provides additional storage for the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKBD Photography by: LOMA Studios For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com