Across the yard, anchoring the back corner is a sophisticated, custom concrete L-shaped bench, fire table and patio with stunning views of the Santa Monica mountains. Beneath the sighing Eucalyptus branches, it’s an enchanting spot to absorb the magic of the Los Angeles night.

THE SETUP “You have to figure out how to rebuild a life worth living,” Basia Kozub’s client says. Her husband passed away suddenly three years ago. Holidays with family became more important, and she found herself struggling with a 37-year old kitchen that was falling apart. “I made a decision to move forward,” she says. “I went, ‘You know what? I’m redoing the kitchen.'” The big task of getting started was as easy as having a conversation – literally. Basia was on the job, helping the client sort through priorities, wishes and ideas. Basia’s client is 5′ 4″, likes keeping an eye on the kiddoes in the backyard and wanted certain things to have their own place. THE REMODEL The objectives were: Enlarge and open the space Find a classic look that incorporates blues Upgrade to easy-to-use appliances Hide an office space within the space Ample storage for dishes Design challenges: Uneven window alignment on the back wall Original kitchen smaller than desired, stuctural concerns if walls to be moved Keep folks close – figure out seating for entertaining Main sink in corner is ideal, but windows are hard to reach Lots of storage needed for dishes, glass collection, pantry items, bar bottles and office supplies Specific storage needs for oft-used spices and utensils THE RENEWED SPACE Design solutions: Replace back wall windows, establish window size continuity Take out two walls to open up the space, tall shallow cabinet and a tall filler added to conceal a new header Large island that seats six easily Custom corner sink cabinet with recessed edge allows vertically challenged homeowner to reach the windows Mindful storage planning features: plenty of cabinets, pull-out bar bottle storage, file drawers & cubbies with pocket doors for office appliances, magic corner pullouts, and appliance garages with pocket doors Shelf behind range for easy access to daily-use spices and oils. Also: spice and utensil pullouts on either side of range The clients says every priority and wish box got checked. The highly functional design absorbed everything that used to be in that area of the house, but now those things are out of the way. “In the past, we were all spread out when we gathered for the holidays, because we had to spread out. Now, we’re all in here together, including my 92-year old mother. We’re visiting, cooking, laughing… everyone is here. And I’m really learning how to use these appliances. This kitchen has given me a whole new life.”

THE DOOR NAME ORIGIN - "PALLADIO TRE SOLID" FINISH: WHITE This is a bit tricky. Isn’t White the default finish that would look great on any interior door? Well, not quite. W. is the color most often associated with perfection, honesty, cleanliness, newness, neutrality, and exactitude. The pigment has been known and used by humans since prehistoric times. In ancient Egypt, W. symbolized purity. Roman patricians paraded around in W. togas to distinguish themselves from the common folk. It was the color of choice of French monarchs. Architects of all epochs used W., with considerable enthusiasm, in various projects and for various reasons. In the United States, architects favored it when designing churches, capitols, and municipal buildings – which is, in fact, a tradition they inherited from classical and Renaissance architecture. According to some experts, most of the buildings in the celebrated Forum were either made of, or clad in, W. marble. In Taoism, it represents the yang or masculine energy, one of the two complementary natures of the universe. Many authors, both classical and contemporary, have referred to W. as a sign of purity, either physical (like William Shakespeare, whose treacherous usurper monarch wishes a heavenly rain would cleanse his blood-stained hand, washing it “white as snow”) or spiritual (like Tennessee Williams, who named his lead character Blanche (derived, incidentally, from the Germanic word blanc)) as a symbol of her innocent child-like spirit, perceptible from the moment she makes her first entrance (through the interior door stage-left). Back in the Seventeenth Century, Sir Isaac Newton discovered that sunlight is composed of light with wavelengths across the visible spectrum which the human eye perceives as W. It is the lightest of the spectrum, and achromatic (hue-less) to boot, because it fully reflects and scatters all visible wavelengths of light, absorbing none. W. objects stand out in the dark. Depending on the surroundings, an interior door with W. finish might come off as emphatic or tactful, dominant or complementary. It blends seamlessly into most types of decor and, once the owner’s needs and disposition are taken into account, can symbolize - oh, so many different things, while bringing back a myriad memories: from those glorious snowy Alpine slopes and peaks to the fluffy tops of the wayward herd of cumulus cloud heap over the horizon on a balmy afternoon in the Caribbean. Tropical sand beaches are W. due to the high quantity of calcium carbonate they get from tiny bits of seashells ground to powder by the waves. In a number of cultures W. can also symbolize festivity, and be used lavishly to brighten up weddings, birthdays, and anniversaries. It is beautiful. Make sure it goes well with your interior door model, though.

Tired of standing on hard wooden floors or stone cold tile? Then come check out floating cork flooring for a happy alternative. Cork is naturally shock-absorbing, so it works wonders for those who struggle with joint conditions and sore feet. Find some relief, go with floating cork floors.

Their Kitchen Remodel Siene & Kentay’s tired kitchen needed some attention. The large and heavy stone covered hood vent paired with the dark stained cabinets sucked the life and light out of the room. One thing that struggled was lighting. Even with the walls of windows the dark features just absorbed the light. We started by using a soft white shaker cabinet called Dove White as the main cabinet color in the kitchen. We removed the stone from the hood and the dark slate from the backsplash. We also removed the dated shape of the peninsula by squaring it off. By doing this, the new walking area improved and allows for transitioning between rooms. The oddly shaped island in the center struggled to give them the storage they needed. They were large cabinets, but items usually got stuck or lost. After determining that Siene wanted to prepare food here, we opted to do deep drawer cabinets to store a lot of her prep items at arm’s reach. The Island and bar cabinets are in a natural stain called Fawn. This color complimented the existing slate flooring. We also lined the hood in trim that matches the island. The island is also waterfalled on both sides with quartz from Arizona Tile called Ivory White Honed. Kitchen getting remodeled before & after photo Kitchen being remodeled before and after photo Just off the kitchen there was a bar, however it was hidden from all rooms. We decided that we would move the bar to a more prominent place in the home, and the existing would be turned into an appliance pantry. A place for the coffee maker, microwave, and other smaller appliance storage. We finished the kitchen with a simple backsplash in a lantern white mosaic with a natural tan grout. The door hardware, faucet from Delta and the new pendant lighting are all in the stainless family allowing for depth and consistency. The new bar features a Sub-Zero wine column with refrigerated storage below. The upper lit glass cabinets offer a chance to showcase stemware and spirits. This custom cabinet install allows the wood to shine and offers storage. Lastly, the additional lighting installed in all areas now is controllable. Siene and Kentay have full control and can direct the light and how much is used. When they want a night in, they can turn down the lights and relax. In their new updated family room in front of a newly integrated modern fireplace. Kitchen getting renovated before and after photo Laundry Room Remodeling Jokingly, Siene called her Laundry Room the Christmas Box. We traded the red and green wallpaper for paint called Drift of Mist from Sherwin Williams. The new white cabinetry offers a lot of storage they are , and a dedicated folding station was integrated for easy transitioning between loads of laundry.

Convenient and most comfortable mattress, Dolce Vita will provide refined comfort with its memory foam layers and soft fiber quilting. This mattress has quilted top layer from extremely plush ultra-soft Eden fiber and memory foam. Outlast fabric absorbs excess heat, for regulation of body temperature, for a long and deep sleep. • Viscose Fabric • Outlast Fiber cover • Memory Foam Padding • Super Soft Eden Fiber • Memoryfoam Layer • Elioform Layer • Removable Cover • Dry Cleanable Twin: W 39" x D 75" x H 10" Twin XL: W 39" x D 80" x H 10" Full: W 54" x D 75" x H 10" Queen: W 60" x D 80" x H 10" King: W 76" x D 80" x H 10" California King: W 72" x D 84" x H 10" from thefurnituretoday.com

Complementing the Home This homeowner approached the experts at Braen Supply to help him select materials for his newly constructed home. The style and design of the house was already completed, therefore, the selected materials needed to complement the features of the home. The homeowner’s one request was to find a patio stone that would emulate a bluestone; however, it would not absorb as much heat as bluestone, allowing swimmers to comfortably move from the pool to the patio without having to worry about shoes. Working With the Experts The experts at Braen Supply were able to find the perfect material to meet the homeowner’s needs and then used that to find materials for the façade, fireplace and outdoor kitchen, while still maintaining a concise look throughout the home. The materials that were selected gave the home a unique, yet classic look.

The complete installation was built by the local certified SnapSports Builders® of Wisconsin. The sports surfacing is thier patented Maple XL with ShockTower® Technology, the world's only modular sports surfacing with independent ShOcK AbSoRbErS for performance and player safety. TOP RATED!

Undulating planting beds in a variety of textures and shades of green draws visitors in to absorb landscape's beauty.
Inspiration for a shade backyard landscaping in Chicago for summer.

A complete clean lines design with complimentary material such as white oak,stainless steel and glass reinforce the product integrity and underline its aesthetic qualities.

These clients love to entertain and host large parties, but their existing kitchen was just too small and outdated. They have a large family with two huge dogs, so we knew we had to create a layout to accommodate everyone. We wanted to open the back wall so that the kitchen could expand into a formal dining room that they rarely used. We were able to remove the built-in pantry, open the back wall, and absorb the entire formal dining room, to create a massive, open, chef’s kitchen. We designed a large eat-in central island built around a 36” gas cooktop with a heavy-duty downdraft pop-up vent. We maximized the cabinetry storage and made the most of every cabinet with pull-out organizers, hands-free trash pull-out, roll-out trays, large pantry cabinets, and gorgeous backlit glass front cabinets. We also created a large stone front bar area complete with a bar sink, double beverage centers, and an ice maker. We added built-in bench seating in the breakfast nook, a custom built-in desk area to utilize the space under the stairs, and refaced the fireplace to match the stacked stone in the bar area.

Butterfly Gold granite is shown in this project! Search "Butterfly Gold" granite, see more granite or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Learn more about granite to see if it’s right for you: Granite countertops can last a lifetime. It contains no harmful chemicals and do not emit harmful radiation or gasses. Granite is heat resistant and is one of the most heat-resistant countertops on the market. You can place a hot pan out of the oven directly onto the countertop surface. Experts do recommend the use of a trivet when using appliances that emit heat for long periods of time, such as crockpots. Since the material is so dense, there is a small possibility heating one area of the top and not the entire thing, could cause the countertop to crack. Granite is scratch resistant. You can cut on it, but it will dull your knives! Granite scores a seven on Moh’s hardness scale. Granite countertops are considered to be a low maintenance countertop surface. The likelihood of needing to be repaired or resurfaced is low. Granite is a porous material. Most fabricators will apply a sealer to granite countertops before they are installed which will protect them from absorbing liquids too quickly. Many sealers last more than 10 years before needing to be reapplied. When they do need to be reapplied, it is something that most homeowners can do on their own as the process is similar to cleaning. Darker granites are very dense and sometimes don’t even require a sealer. When it comes to pricing, there are a lot of variables such as edge profile, total square footage, backsplash, etc. Don’t be fooled by the stereotype that all granite is expensive. Lower-range granites will cost less than high-range laminate. Though granite countertops are not considered “low range” in pricing, there are a lot of affordable options. If you are looking for something truly unique, consider an exotic granite. Some quarries are not easily accessible and/or only able to be quarried for short periods of time throughout the year. If these circumstances exist in a quarry with gorgeous stone, the price will be driven upward. You won’t find a lot of solid patterns or bright colors, but both do exist. Also, watch for a large range of color and pattern within the same color of stone. It’s always a good idea to view the exact slab(s) that will be fabricated for your kitchen to make sure they are what you expected to see from the sample. Another factor is that many exotic types of granite have huge flowing waves, and a small sample will not be an accurate representation of the whole slab. Granite countertops are very resistant to chemicals. Acids and bases will not harm the material.

New construction and original landscaping completed in 2010. Original design had boulders between the driveway and home to minimize the stop and create curb appeal. An assortment of unusual trees (lions head maple, moon rise maple, hinokie cypress, twisted baby locus, and paper bark maple and others) were installed to compliment the home on the naturally wooded lot. Many different perennials and flowering shrubs were installed between these unique specimen trees to provide interest throughout the year. Phase 2 was initiated by the homeowner in 2016 were we landscaped the backyard, which was overgrown with wild trees. It was cleared to create a more useable space and play area for children. Our design team created a master landscape plan and was an integral part with the approval process with the municipality. We worked in tandem with an engineering firm to design and install a bio-retention pond. The pond was designed to take all of the runoff from the newly landscaped backyard. Wet loving plants were incorporated into the pond to beautify the area and absorb the water. A custom, multi-level play set was installed over artificial turf to blend with the newly expanded lawn area. An assortment of trees, shrubs and perennial were installed on the hillside separating the upper yard and newly expanded lower area. Low voltage landscape lighting was expanded to highlight the new plantings and provide light for the children to play in the evening. Our landscape design complimented he newly installed covered outdoor living space.

The b.b.begonia Cotton Ball Outdoor Rug can vibrantly shower sunshine to any area of your home. The vibrant orange color is muted by the overlapping black fibers making this a standout piece for your living space. You’ll definitely adore this accent design to match your furniture and decors. This reversible mat is a great solution for the patio, deck, pool area or yard. Made from recycled Polypropylene, this b.b.begonia Cotton Ball Outdoor rug is mold and mildew resistant as it doesn’t absorb dirt or stains. Easy to clean, leaves, mud or food spills are rinsed away with water and soap with no trouble. Plus the tightly woven tubular yarn material of b.b.begonia rugs supports your need for a durable and strong rug to outlast the elements. Moreover, the rugs are treated with U.V. inhibitors and state of the art conditioners to ensure color fastness.

Trendy kitchen photo in Baltimore

Our clients small two bedroom home was in a very popular and desirably located area of south Edmonton just off of Whyte Ave. The main floor was very partitioned and not suited for the clients' lifestyle and entertaining. They needed more functionality with a better and larger front entry and more storage/utility options. The exising living room, kitchen, and nook needed to be reconfigured to be more open and accommodating for larger gatherings. They also wanted a large garage in the back. They were interest in creating a Chelsea Market New Your City feel in their new great room. The 2nd bedroom was absorbed into a larger front entry with loads of storage options and the master bedroom was enlarged along with its closet. The existing bathroom was updated. The walls dividing the kitchen, nook, and living room were removed and a great room created. The result was fantastic and more functional living space for this young couple along with a larger and more functional garage.

This is the largest Steam Room I have ever designed at 5'x9'. A combination of porcelain tile from Florida Tile and stone accent tile. Best to use man made tiles in a steam room because stone absorbs the heat making the steam room less efficient.

This was a complete kitchen renovation. The remodel included removing skylights and installing a two story bump up adding no square footage to the room but creating a dramatic visual even for the most discriminating designer. When you enter this kitchen your eyes wander trying to absorb the immense planning and detail that went into the renovation but ultimately you find yourself positioned under the large Theresa Maria chandelier gazing into the sky. The kitchen was designed around the 48 inch Thermador stove. The 2 story inset cabinet creation around the stove flows up into the addition creating a visual masterpiece that is only rivaled by original pieces of art works created by the likes of Van Gogh, Picasso and Rembrandt. The sink was relocated from the exterior wall and into the island so that the stove wall would be isolated and not connected any other cabinets. The 36-inch-wide refrigerator and 36-inch-wide freezer were designed and installed next to a microwave cabinet that makes heating up items as convenient as 1,2,3. The outside cabinet wall section is perfect for entertaining with the 42 inch base cabinets. The massive two-tiered island of 124 inches long is perfect for everyday family living. A farmer’s sink adds the perfect touch to this traditional design. Renovating a kitchen without ceiling detail is one of the most overlooked parts of the renovation. The amount of money spent on the renovation depends on the budget of course but I highly recommend including ceiling detail as much as one considers the tile backsplash.

This office was designed for a creative professional. The desk and chair are situated to absorb breathtaking views of the lake, and modern light fixtures, sculptural desk and chair, and a minimal but dramatic full-length floor mirror all set the stage for inspiration, creativity, and productivity. A chaise lounge, and shelving for books and papers provide functionality as well as opportunity for relaxation.