Photo: Darlene Halaby Photography © 2019 Houzz
Inspiration for a kitchen remodel

I designed a beautiful, functional kitchen perfect for this couple’s active lifestyle who love to cook & entertain. By completely reconfiguring the space, relocating appliances and adding an island, this kitchen now has more work surface and lots of storage for cooking utensils, spices, specialty oils & even an area to display some of their wine collection. With leathered stone countertops, a custom wine cabinet and all LED lighting, this contemporary kitchen now lends itself to multiple cooks and, most importantly, my clients love their new kitchen! As serious wine collectors, they felt it would be nice to have an area to display and store a few select bottles of wine, although most of the collection is stored elsewhere. While it is usually just the two of them, they enjoy entertaining and have children and family come to visit quite a bit, so space to move about was important. Their style leans toward contemporary, nothing fussy & with very clean lines—they prefer a linear, symmetrical look so the stylized Shaker cabinets were ideal. They prefer natural surfaces, therefore the leathered granite countertops & hardwood flooring were a perfect fit. This kitchen gets great sunlight during the day but was in dire need of light at night. New LED cans for general lighting, pendant lighting over the island as well as under cabinet lighting is all dimmable so they can adjust the brightness. Photo: J. Brent Reeves

Magical pool cabana beside large negative edge pool. Huge pool deck also has BBQ area. Pool cabana has kitchen, window opens to sitting area. Granite counter tops with copper insets on the cabinets. Architect: Kilbane Architecture. Photo: Mark Boisclair. Interior Design: Susan Hersker and Elaine Ryckman Builder: Detar Construction Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/

This kitchen was designed around a family who cooks large meals for their extended family. With as many as five cooks in the kitchen, the main focus was on building zones to accommodate the workspace needed. Extra storage options were added inside many of the cabinets. An over-sized island and extra countertop space were install to allow for easy prep and access to the appliances. The light stain and playful backsplash were added to soften this active kitchen. Treve Johnson Photography

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW As with most projects, it all started with the kitchen layout. The home owners came to us wanting to upgrade their kitchen and overall aesthetic in their suburban home, with a combination of fresh paint, updated finishes, and improved flow for more ease when doing everyday activities. A monochromatic, earth-toned palette left the kitchen feeling uninspired. It lacked the brightness they wanted from their space. An eat-in table underutilized the available square footage. The butler’s pantry was out of the way and hard to access, and the dining room felt detached from the kitchen. Lead Designer, Stephanie Cole, saw an improved layout for the spaces that were no longer working for this family. By eliminating an existing wall between the kitchen and dining room, and relocating the bar area to the dining room, we opened up the kitchen, providing all the space we needed to create a dreamy and functional layout. A new perimeter configuration promoted circulation while also making space for a large and functional island loaded with seating – a must for any family. Because an island that isn’t big enough for everyone (and a few more) is a recipe for disaster. The light white cabinetry is fresh and contrasts with the deeper tones in the wood flooring, creating a modern aesthetic that is elevated, yet approachable for everyday living. With better flow as the overarching goal, we made some structural changes too. To remove a bottleneck in the entryway, we angled one of the dining room walls to create more natural separation between rooms and facilitate ease of movement throughout the large space. At The Kitchen Studio, we believe a well-designed kitchen uses every square inch to the fullest. By starting from scratch, it was possible to rethink the entire kitchen layout and design the space according to how it is used, because the kitchen shouldn’t make it harder to feed the family. A new location for the existing range, flanked by a new column refrigerator and freezer on each side, worked to anchor the space. The very large and very spacious island (a dream island if we do say so ourselves) now houses the primary sink and provides ample space for food prep and family gathering. The new kitchen table and coordinating banquette seating provide a cozy nook for quick breakfasts before school or work, and evening homework sessions. Elegant gold details catch the natural light, elevating the aesthetic. The dining room was transformed into one of this client’s favorite spaces and we couldn’t agree more. We saw an opportunity to give the dining room a more distinguished identity by closing off the entrance from the foyer. The relocated wet bar enhances the sophisticated vibe of this gathering space, complete with beautiful antique mirror tiles and open shelving encased by moody built-in cabinets. Updated furnishings add warmth. A rich walnut table is paired with custom chairs in a muted coral fabric. The large, transitional chandelier grounds the room, pairing beautifully with the gold finishes prevalent in the faucet and cabinet hardware. Linen-inspired wallpaper and cream-toned window treatments add to the glamorous feel of this entertainment space. There is no way around it. The laundry room was cramped. The large washer and dryer blocked access to the sink and left little room for the space to serve its other essential function – as a mudroom. Because we reworked the kitchen layout to create more space overall, we could rethink the mudroom too – an essential for any busy family. The first step was moving the washer and dryer to an existing area on the second floor, where most of the family’s laundry lives (no one wants to carry laundry up and down the stairs if they don’t have to anyway). This is a more functional solution and opened up the space for all the mudroom necessities – including the existing kitchen refrigerator, loads of built-in cubbies, and a bench. It’s hard to not fall in love with every detail of a new space, especially when it serves your day-to-day life. But that doesn’t mean the clients didn’t have their favorite features they use on the daily. This remodel was focused largely on function with a new kitchen layout. And it’s the functional features that have the biggest impact. The large island provides much needed workspace in the kitchen and is a spot where everyone gathers together – it grounds the space and the family. And the custom counter stools are the icing on the cake. The nearby mudroom has everything their previous space was lacking – ample storage, space for everyone’s essentials, and the beloved cement floor tiles that are both durable and artistic.

Flagstone path through lush plantings
Photo of a mid-sized asian partial sun backyard stone garden path in San Francisco.

This kitchen was designed around a family who cooks large meals for their extended family. With as many as five cooks in the kitchen, the main focus was on building zones to accommodate the workspace needed. Extra storage options were added inside many of the cabinets. An over-sized island and extra countertop space were install to allow for easy prep and access to the appliances. The light stain and playful backsplash were added to soften this active kitchen. Treve Johnson Photography

Architect: Kilbane Architecture. Builder: Detar Construction photo: Mark Boisclair Interior Design: Susan Hersker and Elaine Ryckman. Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/

Architect: Kilbane Architecture. Builder: Detar Construction photo: Mark Boisclair Interior Design: Susan Hersker and Elaine Ryckman. Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/sedona/

The entire Modern furniture collection is sophisticated, clean and simple, bold and a bit daring. It honors its roots in Modernism but has been adapted for today's life and activities, in action and rest. It focuses on livability and usability, making it comfortable enough for everyday.

THEME Inspired by the Magic Tree House series of children’s books, this indoor tree house provides entertainment, fun and a place for children to read about or imagine adventures through time. A blue sky, green meadows, and distant matching beech trees recreate the magic of Jack and Annie’s Frog Creek, and help bring the characters from the series to life. FOCUS A floor armoire, ceiling swing and climbing rope give the structure a true tree house look and feel. A drop-down drawing and writing table, wheeled work table and recessed ceiling lights ensure the room can be used for more than play. The tree house has electric interior lighting, a window to the outdoors and a playful sliding shutter over a window to the room. The armoire forms a raised, nine-foot-wide play area, while a TV within one of the wall’s floor-to-ceiling cabinets — with a delightful sliding ladder — transforms the room into a family theater perfect for watching movies and holding Wii competitions. STORAGE The bottom of the drawing table is a magnetic chalk board that doubles as a display for children’s art works. The tree’s small niches are for parents’ shoes; the larger compartment stores children’s shoes and school bags. Books, games, toys, DVDs, Wii and other computer accessories are stored in the wall cabinets. The armoire contains two spacious drawers and four nifty hinged storage bins. A rack of handy “vegetable buckets” above the armoire stores crayons, scissors and other useful items. GROWTH The room easily adapts from playroom, to party room, to study room and even to bedroom, as the tree house easily accommodates a twin-size mattress. SAFETY The rungs and rails of the ladder, as well as the grab bars beside the tree house door are wrapped with easy-grip rope for safe climbing. The drawing table has spring-loaded hinges to help prevent it from dropping dangerously from the wall, and the table door has double sets of locks up top to ensure safety. The interior of each storage compartment is carpeted like the tree house floor to provide extra padding.

This model home is in a community at the foot of the Texas Hill Country. The setting is bucolic and appeals to families as well as active adults – the target market for this model home. The builder, Brookfield Residential, offers four distinct styles of homes, one of which is the Modern Farmhouse. The design is focused on blending modern trends with traditional farmhouse characteristics. Traditional farmhouse interiors were simple and practical. Walls were often whitewashed wood, white or light paint. Hardwood floors were lightly stained and varnished for a natural look. Bringing exterior siding and board and batten inside gives dimension and interest to white walls. A barn door opens into a study niche at the entry and the popped-up ceiling is enhanced with board and batten. The most popular features of this home include the open floor plan, large kitchen that opens to the great room and outdoor covered patio and the master suite with over-sized shower and walk-in closet. The lines between indoor and outdoor are blurred by the nano sliding doors that open up the house to the back porch. Photos by Applebox Imaging

DESIGN BUILD REMODEL | Bathroom Remodel | FOUR POINT DESIGN BUILD INC | Part Four This completely transformed 3500+ sf family dream home sits atop the gorgeous hills of Calabasas CA and celebrates the strategic and eclectic merging of contemporary and classic forms, with mid-century modern accents earthy touches of a world traveler. Home to a very active family, when considering the needs our client's beautiful young daughter, our focus was on function, longevity, openness, daylight, privacy, and the future; As we planned ahead to a time when this bathroom might serve as another master suite! AS SEEN IN Better Homes and Gardens | BEFORE & AFTER | 10 page feature and COVER | Spring 2016 To see more of this fantastic transformation, watch for the launch of our NEW website and blog THE FOUR POINT REPORT, where we celebrate this and other incredible design build journey! Launching September 2016. Photography by Riley Jamison #bathroom #remodel #LAinteriordesigner #builder #dreamproject #oneinamillion

This rustic style home on Hartwell Lake was designed and built for the owners to enjoy with family and friends during their active weekend lifestyle. The home was built on a narrow, deep lot that was semi-level on the roadside and steep on the lakeside. The back half of the lot heavily wooded with mature oak and poplar trees reducing the harsh sun’s heat gain on the home. The exterior utilizes fiber cement cedar shake and lap siding complimented by deep brown colors for the windows, soffit, trim and the large square columns. A nice balance of natural earth toned stacked stone rounds out the exterior materials completing the rustic casual lake living. The home 5400 SF is designed and built on thee levels each having a primary focus. The main level creates primary daily living for the owners. This level features an open plan with an entry, stair, dining, kitchen and living areas leading to a large lakeside screened porch. A master suite is privately tucked off its own hallway and allowing it to enjoy the lakeside as well with its own private deck. On the opposite side are two bedrooms, a study and a shared bathroom for each to utilize. An open carport for two vehicles was created with the motor court and connects to the mudroom/utility room giving the owners direct entry into their home. The upper level is for the grand children with an oversized bedroom, bathroom and loft area for play. The lower level is the considered the party level. Its primary feature is an elevated stage for the owner’s band opened to a large seating area, dining and kitchen for viewing and listening with direct access to another screened porch. Flanking each side is a theater and two additional bedrooms and bathrooms. Energy Efficient features include: • The majority of the lower level sunk into the site below grade • 6” thick walls utilizing advanced framing techniques • Foil covered roof sheathing • Extensive use of blown in cellulous • All windows & doors are double paned low E argon filed glass • Tank-less water heaters • Three separate high efficiency HVAC units with programmable thermostats and a fresh air ERV. Lastly the owner requested we make every effort to sound proof the home. Many materials and techniques gave a duel purpose and added to the energy efficiency. These items include: • 2x6 walls with staggered studs • Extensive use if rock wool acoustic batting • Tempered glass in all exterior doors and windows • ¼ thick Mass Loaded Vinyl (MLV) was installed on the top and bottom of the floor trusses and on all lower level walls. The combination of the design and detailing utilizing these specific materials enabled us to achieve a 5 Star Plus Energy Star Certification with a HERS Index Score of 50. This home received a the 2015 Pinnacle Award from the SC Home Builders Association for the “Best Achievement in Energy Efficiency” sponsored by the SC Department Commerce.

The owners of this Connecticut-style, center-hall colonial loved their location and how the house was situated on their beautiful wooded lot, but they dreamed of a more welcoming home that would better suit their family’s active lifestyle. Not satisfied with what was available on the market, they turned to the design build professionals at BOWA to develop a multi-phased plan to transform their existing home. The first stage of the project focused on remodeling the existing house, both inside and out. Classically designed elements, such as a gracious portico at the front entryway and attic dormers, were incorporated to add architectural interest to the front elevation. Copyright Bob Narod Photography and BOWA

Dramatic pool and spa with firepit. Indoor outdoor living, Negative edge pool is olympic length and edge literally falls off a cliff. Pool cabana has golf course views Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/sedona/

Large hilltop home with 360-degree views of canyons, mountains, and golf course. Extensive use of stone tile, slab stone, and exotic woods. Enormous pool, multiple spas, putting green, home theater, patios with fire pits, indoor-outdoor living. Project designed by Susie Hersker’s Scottsdale interior design firm Design Directives. Design Directives is active in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Cave Creek, Carefree, Sedona, and beyond. For more about Design Directives, click here: https://susanherskerasid.com/

A clean, transitional home design. This home focuses on ample and open living spaces for the family, as well as impressive areas for hosting family and friends. The quality of materials chosen, combined with simple and understated lines throughout, creates a perfect canvas for this family’s life. Contrasting whites, blacks, and greys create a dramatic backdrop for an active and loving lifestyle.

Keyes Road is a two-storey, semi-detached red brick house dating to around 1890-1910. The focus of our work was on the ground floor where we were asked to improve the layout and use of the main living areas of the house, for an active family of four. Important to the design was to maximise the quality and amount of light as well as connection to the garden and flow to the rest of the house. Our proposal introduces three single storey extensions, comprising a central, large space that extends the main outrigger of the house. To each side are smaller volumes, affording a full width kitchen. While defining a series of discrete volumes, it was important for us to ensure that the kitchen, living, family and dining rooms that are interconnecting and continuous. The result is a big space punctuated by a series of differently sized arches, defining spaces to ensure their intimacy. It was important for our client to have a sense of warmth and comfort - perhaps not dissimilar to the qualities of a hotel lobby. The colour scheme of the rooms are warm white painted plaster, natural wood flooring with black, bronze and brass accents. Indirect and carefully placed light fittings pulls together the atmosphere of the rooms - particularly in the evenings. Externally, we felt it important to differentiate the extensions from the main house by using a dark, charcoal grey brick. This sets up a contrasting yet complimentary relationship to the rich red coloured brick house. The facets of the brick play with light and depth as do the graduated brick arches. During the design process, we grappled with floor levels, the direction of sunlight, and care to not encroach on the neighbouring properties. As the house is in a conservation area, we worked closely with our trusted planning advisor. Throughout, we pursued a sensitive design strategy, using pitched roofs, matching materials and careful detailing. Internally, many of the original details are intact. This has enabled us to create an eclectic ensemble of elements, colours and materials varying in age and period.