A young Skokie couple needed home remodeling ideas to accommodate their four growing children. A second story addition doubled the space of their ranch-style home, creating four bedrooms upstairs and combining smaller rooms into a spacious living area on the first floor. This custom home renovation features faucets, sinks, and tubs by Kohler® and ceramic tile by Daltile®. The exterior was updated with a rustic stone façade, cherry wood accents, and a copper roof.

The family room, previously a flat wall with no built-in features, was transformed to reduce clutter and create a more organized space. A custom-built wall unit was designed to maximize storage and functionality. This large unit features a mounted flatscreen TV set against a shiplap backdrop, with wires neatly concealed within the wall to minimize visible cords. The built-in unit includes two floor-to-ceiling bookcases on either side, each with open shelving both above and below. The center of the unit offers a combination of drawers and cabinet doors, providing 10 additional storage solutions. This versatile space is ideal for organizing children’s artwork, art supplies, movies, electronics, games, and more. To enhance the overall aesthetic, crown molding was added to complement the unique sloped ceiling, along with baseboards and additional trim work. Additionally, wood floor laminate was installed throughout the entire first floor of the home, replacing outdated carpet and contributing to a cohesive, modern look.

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

Aptos Addition and Major Remodel. Our goal on this project was to provide the owners with the larger kitchen and additional bedrooms they needed for their growing family of five. The existing house was small, but they had a good sized lot in the Cliff Drive neighborhood along the ocean bluffs in Rio Del Mar which we were able to utilize.. Our team designed an extension of the existing house into the rear yard area, allowing for a new master suite and creating separate bedrooms for the children. The old kitchen was expanded and reconceived to create an inviting and open family room area with commercial appliances to support the client’s passion for great Italian cooking. Her decorating concept combining Modern Farmhouse themes with contemporary fixtures and finishes resulted in the beautiful, light, and comfortable home you see in these photographs.

The owners were interested in updating their kitchen with design elements that met their needs. Stir fry cooking was at the top of the list for entertainment when friends and family gathered. An extended family that included elderly parents and small children was considered when planning the seating arrangements in the space. We started with an island design that offered integrated seating at standard table height in addition to café height stools. A nine foot high ceiling was lowered over the island and wall cabinets. This allowed for a large ventilation system and added some coziness to the space. Stainless steel appliances along with a matching appliance garage added timeless beauty and function. Honed Black granite counter tops on natural Cherry cabinets soften the overall feel of the room. The addition of Euro style stainless steel hardware helps to pull the whole space together!

This Claremont home was in the middle stages of construction as a duplex when our clients purchased it. However, they wanted a single family home inspired by Japanese design. The owners have a great modern aesthetic and also wanted to use just a few different materials which created a strong and simple palette. Added to this clean look are chartreuse main doors, midcentury modern lighting, a tatami room, and black metal stair railing. These carefully placed details offer a unique and personal character to the home. In addition, a children’s reading nook and desk under the stair case utilizes the space fully and adds another individual touch.

The client's purchased this home with a gorgeous lot but needing a total gut renovation and addition. We brought the mechanicals, insulation, and electrical up-to-speed along with renovating the interior and exterior of the home. A few of the interesting features seen here are a reclaimed wood island-top from a local train station, the cabinets custom-made with a local cabinet maker, a copper ceiling above the island in the kitchen, a large farmhouse sink in the kitchen, and a table from reclaimed wood. We also installed custom built-ins and window seats for the children's rooms. All of this was built for the client on-site.

This family in Hilltop was looking for more space for them and their son. They decided to add a two-story addition off the house that would include a sunroom on the first floor with a new bedroom on the second floor. But they were concerned about making sure the addition felt like a part of the originial house. The designs were created to match the rest of the house and create the same feeling wherever you went. With an arch entering into the sunroom, it flows seemlessly from one room into the other. The sunroom downstairs is ideal for soaking up the sun or cozying up next to the fireplace. The son’s upstairs bedroom has a matching arch doorway that leads you into the perfect children’s room. With accessible bookshelves, a closet big enough for some additional costumes, and easy to clean flooring, it felt like home immediately. The family also had a basement that needed some attention. The laundry room was designed to have areas for hanging clothes, storing supplies, and ample counter space – all while still having a modern feel. The family room connects to the play room, toy room, and full bathroom through the beautiful barn doors. The barn doors make it easy to have an open feel between the two rooms. Finally, who doesn’t love this toy room? It’s the perfect mix of adorable and functional. It’s an incredible downstairs layout for any family who wants to have convienant storage, a modern feel, and an area to spend quality time together.

Pit crew alert!!! This high-test four (4) drawer chest will have your champ gaining extra laps & winning high scores for neatness!!! High-octane dresser available in glossy red finish is a winner for additional storage. • Hi-speed bright red finish • Faux gas nozzle releases from side for fast "refueling" • Four Retractable Drawers • Spoiler type slim shelf for toy display • Open cubby divided storage for books & collectibles • Gas gauge detailed upper concealed cabinet • Removable Pump Nozzle • 5 – year warranty

Aptos Addition and Major Remodel. Our goal on this project was to provide the owners with the larger kitchen and additional bedrooms they needed for their growing family of five. The existing house was small, but they had a good sized lot in the Cliff Drive neighborhood along the ocean bluffs in Rio Del Mar which we were able to utilize.. Our team designed an extension of the existing house into the rear yard area, allowing for a new master suite and creating separate bedrooms for the children. The old kitchen was expanded and reconceived to create an inviting and open family room area with commercial appliances to support the client’s passion for great Italian cooking. Her decorating concept combining Modern Farmhouse themes with contemporary fixtures and finishes resulted in the beautiful, light, and comfortable home you see in these photographs.

Aptos Addition and Major Remodel. Our goal on this project was to provide the owners with the larger kitchen and additional bedrooms they needed for their growing family of five. The existing house was small, but they had a good sized lot in the Cliff Drive neighborhood along the ocean bluffs in Rio Del Mar which we were able to utilize.. Our team designed an extension of the existing house into the rear yard area, allowing for a new master suite and creating separate bedrooms for the children. The old kitchen was expanded and reconceived to create an inviting and open family room area with commercial appliances to support the client’s passion for great Italian cooking. Her decorating concept combining Modern Farmhouse themes with contemporary fixtures and finishes resulted in the beautiful, light, and comfortable home you see in these photographs.

The client's purchased this home with a gorgeous lot but needing a total gut renovation and addition. We brought the mechanicals, insulation, and electrical up-to-speed along with renovating the interior and exterior of the home. A few of the interesting features seen here are a reclaimed wood island-top from a local train station, the cabinets custom-made with a local cabinet maker, a copper ceiling above the island in the kitchen, a large farmhouse sink in the kitchen, and a table from reclaimed wood. We also installed custom built-ins and window seats for the children's rooms. All of this was built for the client on-site.

Aptos Addition and Major Remodel. Our goal on this project was to provide the owners with the larger kitchen and additional bedrooms they needed for their growing family of five. The existing house was small, but they had a good sized lot in the Cliff Drive neighborhood along the ocean bluffs in Rio Del Mar which we were able to utilize.. Our team designed an extension of the existing house into the rear yard area, allowing for a new master suite and creating separate bedrooms for the children. The old kitchen was expanded and reconceived to create an inviting and open family room area with commercial appliances to support the client’s passion for great Italian cooking. Her decorating concept combining Modern Farmhouse themes with contemporary fixtures and finishes resulted in the beautiful, light, and comfortable home you see in these photographs.

In the hills of San Anselmo in Marin County, this 5,000 square foot existing multi-story home was enlarged to 6,000 square feet with a new dance studio addition with new master bedroom suite and sitting room for evening entertainment and morning coffee. Sited on a steep hillside one acre lot, the back yard was unusable. New concrete retaining walls and planters were designed to create outdoor play and lounging areas with stairs that cascade down the hill forming a wrap-around walkway. The goal was to make the new addition integrate the disparate design elements of the house and calm it down visually. The scope was not to change everything, just the rear façade and some of the side facades. The new addition is a long rectangular space inserted into the rear of the building with new up-swooping roof that ties everything together. Clad in red cedar, the exterior reflects the relaxed nature of the one acre wooded hillside site. Fleetwood windows and wood patterned tile complete the exterior color material palate. The sitting room overlooks a new patio area off of the children’s playroom and features a butt glazed corner window providing views filtered through a grove of bay laurel trees. Inside is a television viewing area with wetbar off to the side that can be closed off with a concealed pocket door to the master bedroom. The bedroom was situated to take advantage of these views of the rear yard and the bed faces a stone tile wall with recessed skylight above. The master bath, a driving force for the project, is large enough to allow both of them to occupy and use at the same time. The new dance studio and gym was inspired for their two daughters and has become a facility for the whole family. All glass, mirrors and space with cushioned wood sports flooring, views to the new level outdoor area and tree covered side yard make for a dramatic turnaround for a home with little play or usable outdoor space previously. Photo Credit: Paul Dyer Photography.

An ADU contractor in La Mirada can help get that extra dwelling space at residence through an act of home addition, bump-out addition or building a new dwelling unit in the backyard. This is required when your children or parents arrive to stay with you, after spending some time in different cities or towns. ADU Construction in La Mirada, CA - https://www.benioconstruction.com/

This family in Hilltop was looking for more space for them and their son. They decided to add a two-story addition off the house that would include a sunroom on the first floor with a new bedroom on the second floor. But they were concerned about making sure the addition felt like a part of the originial house. The designs were created to match the rest of the house and create the same feeling wherever you went. With an arch entering into the sunroom, it flows seemlessly from one room into the other. The sunroom downstairs is ideal for soaking up the sun or cozying up next to the fireplace. The son’s upstairs bedroom has a matching arch doorway that leads you into the perfect children’s room. With accessible bookshelves, a closet big enough for some additional costumes, and easy to clean flooring, it felt like home immediately. The family also had a basement that needed some attention. The laundry room was designed to have areas for hanging clothes, storing supplies, and ample counter space – all while still having a modern feel. The family room connects to the play room, toy room, and full bathroom through the beautiful barn doors. The barn doors make it easy to have an open feel between the two rooms. Finally, who doesn’t love this toy room? It’s the perfect mix of adorable and functional. It’s an incredible downstairs layout for any family who wants to have convienant storage, a modern feel, and an area to spend quality time together.

This family in Hilltop was looking for more space for them and their son. They decided to add a two-story addition off the house that would include a sunroom on the first floor with a new bedroom on the second floor. But they were concerned about making sure the addition felt like a part of the originial house. The designs were created to match the rest of the house and create the same feeling wherever you went. With an arch entering into the sunroom, it flows seemlessly from one room into the other. The sunroom downstairs is ideal for soaking up the sun or cozying up next to the fireplace. The son’s upstairs bedroom has a matching arch doorway that leads you into the perfect children’s room. With accessible bookshelves, a closet big enough for some additional costumes, and easy to clean flooring, it felt like home immediately. The family also had a basement that needed some attention. The laundry room was designed to have areas for hanging clothes, storing supplies, and ample counter space – all while still having a modern feel. The family room connects to the play room, toy room, and full bathroom through the beautiful barn doors. The barn doors make it easy to have an open feel between the two rooms. Finally, who doesn’t love this toy room? It’s the perfect mix of adorable and functional. It’s an incredible downstairs layout for any family who wants to have convienant storage, a modern feel, and an area to spend quality time together.

Every detail of this unique preschool has been designed to give children that “Once upon a time” experience. At Little Sunshine’s Playhouse and Preschool, no details were overlooked in the construction of this facility, including the addition of Playground Grass Ultra to the play area. They say that a child’s work is play, and what better surface to play on than Playground Grass by ForeverLawn?

The client's purchased this home with a gorgeous lot but needing a total gut renovation and addition. We brought the mechanicals, insulation, and electrical up-to-speed along with renovating the interior and exterior of the home. A few of the interesting features seen here are a reclaimed wood island-top from a local train station, the cabinets custom-made with a local cabinet maker, a copper ceiling above the island in the kitchen, a large farmhouse sink in the kitchen, and a table from reclaimed wood. We also installed custom built-ins and window seats for the children's rooms. All of this was built for the client on-site.