Country living room photo in Nashville

Transitional kitchen photo in Orange County

Our clients loved the location of their duplex home with its peak-a-boo ocean view, but their existing kitchen was not suited for their growing family. They wanted a kitchen with a coastal vibe, plenty of storage space, and an eat-in area. We started by bringing the far wall into the kitchen space to accommodate a large panty and communication center for the family. Doing this allowed us to move the refrigerator out of the main traffic area and doubled the amount of storage space. Several new windows were added to bring in natural light. A half wall was moved to allow more countertop area and open up sight lines. The previously awkwardly shaped island was slimmed down to create better flow. There were a few venting challenges to overcome; gas lines and plumbing had to be re-routed without disturbing the unit below. To open up sight lines, soffits were eliminated which allowed the extension of cabinets to the ceiling. To stay within the homeowner’s budget, we match existing scraped flooring by lacing in and repairing patches. The old dining area was too small for table, so we designed and built a custom banquette to maximize the space and take advantage of the outdoor views. The overall space works for family meals as well as entertaining. A light summer palette was used to reflect the shades of the sand, sea and sky. Even though the new kitchen is actually smaller than the original space, its now far more functional and open.

This Modern Prairie Bungalow was designed to capture the natural beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains from every space within. The sprawling horizontal design and hipped roofs echo the surrounding mountain landscape. The color palette and natural materials help the home blend seamlessly into the Rockies with dark stained wood accents, textural stone, and smooth stucco. Black metal details and unique window configurations bring an industrial-inspired modern element to this mountain retreat. As you enter through the front entry, an abundance of windows flood the home with natural light – bringing the outdoors in. Two covered exterior living spaces provide ample room for entertaining and relaxing in this Springbank Hill custom home.

Modern open white kitchen with large island allows for plenty of storage. The uses of floating shelves keeps the kitchen open and light. Stainless steel appliances and elongated brushed nickel hardware bring a modern touch. Pebble Caesarstone compliments the white shaker style doors, while glass globe light and glass doors lighten the look. Beautiful 7" oak wood floors complete the area. Retro white pendant lights over island brings personality to the space. Greg Frost Photography

The owners of this property had been away from the Bay Area for many years, and looked forward to returning to an elegant mid-century modern house. The one they bought was anything but that. Faced with a “remuddled” kitchen from one decade, a haphazard bedroom / family room addition from another, and an otherwise disjointed and generally run-down mid-century modern house, the owners asked Klopf Architecture and Envision Landscape Studio to re-imagine this house and property as a unified, flowing, sophisticated, warm, modern indoor / outdoor living space for a family of five. Opening up the spaces internally and from inside to out was the first order of business. The formerly disjointed eat-in kitchen with 7 foot high ceilings were opened up to the living room, re-oriented, and replaced with a spacious cook's kitchen complete with a row of skylights bringing light into the space. Adjacent the living room wall was completely opened up with La Cantina folding door system, connecting the interior living space to a new wood deck that acts as a continuation of the wood floor. People can flow from kitchen to the living / dining room and the deck seamlessly, making the main entertainment space feel at once unified and complete, and at the same time open and limitless. Klopf opened up the bedroom with a large sliding panel, and turned what was once a large walk-in closet into an office area, again with a large sliding panel. The master bathroom has high windows all along one wall to bring in light, and a large wet room area for the shower and tub. The dark, solid roof structure over the patio was replaced with an open trellis that allows plenty of light, brightening the new deck area as well as the interior of the house. All the materials of the house were replaced, apart from the framing and the ceiling boards. This allowed Klopf to unify the materials from space to space, running the same wood flooring throughout, using the same paint colors, and generally creating a consistent look from room to room. Located in Lafayette, CA this remodeled single-family house is 3,363 square foot, 4 bedroom, and 3.5 bathroom. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Jackie Detamore, and Jeffrey Prose Landscape Design: Envision Landscape Studio Structural Engineer: Brian Dotson Consulting Engineers Contractor: Kasten Builders Photography ©2015 Mariko Reed Staging: The Design Shop Location: Lafayette, CA Year completed: 2014

A pull out coffee and small appliance storage in the corner by the sink provides a readily accessible way to access and store away these appliances. Creating ease in the kitchen is key!

Example of an island style sunroom design in Bridgeport with a standard ceiling

The Madison Park™ 32 and Madison Park 34 gas fireplace inserts bring convenience and efficient heating to an existing wood-burning fireplace. Listed to fit zero-clearance factory-built and masonry fireplaces, the Madison Park line of gas inserts turns your standard fireplace into a cost-effective heat source that displays a realistic gas fire for brilliant warmth and ambiance. Aesthetics High-detail, hand painted log set and realistic fireplace depth. State-of-the-art burn technology provides the flame appearance and glow of an authentic wood-burning fire. Standard accent lighting can be used to compliment the burning fire or provide a stylish way to add lighting to a room without adding heat. Choose between 3 distinctive styles of accessory facades to match the look of your existing décor. The interior of the firebox can be complimented by choosing 1 of 2 brick interiors or by opting for reflective black enamel to enhance the look of the fire. Comfort Wireless Total Comfort Control™ remote system provides precise heat control. Electronic ignition system with battery backup—still ignites and heats during a power outage. Standard 155-CFM blower to circulate warmth in your home. Ease of Operation From the convenience of your sofa, use your Total Comfort Control remote to adjust the room temperature around the exact area where you are relaxing. Six heat and blower settings give you precise control to efficiently heat the space around you. In addition to temperature control, enjoy six lighting settings and pilot operation directly from the included remote control. Looking for a smaller insert? Learn more about the Madison Park 27.

While this new home had an architecturally striking exterior, the home’s interior fell short in terms of true functionality and overall style. The most critical element in the home’s renovation was the kitchen and dining area, which needed careful attention to bring it to the level that suited the home and the homeowners. The concept and vision of Abby Smith, Abby Smith Design, was brought to life by collaboration with The Kitchen Source to elicit thoughtful space-planning and great attention to the necessary details. Having trained in the culinary arts, the homeowner wanted a kitchen that “feels like a restaurant,” where guests can gather over great food, great wine, and truly feel comfortable in the open concept home. The use of natural materials, textures, and finishes beautifully contrasts the professional appliances and industrial elements sought after by the homeowners. The dining area addition, enclosed by windows, continues to vivify the organic elements and brings in ample natural light, enhancing the darker finishes. This collaborative effort proved to be successful in producing a truly custom and elegant space that finally gave life to this modern home. Photography - Lemuel Walsh

Elegant dark wood floor dining room photo in Salt Lake City with white walls

Example of a cottage home design design in Other

Spacecrafting
Example of a mid-sized trendy light wood floor entryway design in Minneapolis with a yellow front door and yellow walls

Casey Woods
Large minimalist backyard deck photo in Austin with no cover

The garden artfully blends classic and contemporary design to create a chic entry to the guesthouse and a secluded place for visitors to relax. Featuring clipped greens, terracotta pots, and gravel pathways, it bears the hallmarks of a traditional Mediterranean garden, but with an innovative twist. Furniture from Juniper House. Photo by Peter Valli

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Inspiration for a transitional home design remodel in Minneapolis

ArcherShot Photography
Pool - 1960s pool idea in Austin

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The homeowners of this mid-century Colonial and family of four were frustrated with the layout of their existing kitchen which was a small, narrow peninsula layout but that was adjoining a large space that they could not figure out how to use. Stealing part of the unused space seemed like an easy solution, except that there was an existing transition in floor height which made that a bit tricky. The solution of bringing the floor height up to meet the height of the existing kitchen allowed us to do just that. This solution also offered some challenges. The exterior door had to be raised which resulted in some exterior rework, and the floor transition had to happen somewhere to get out to the garage, so we ended up “pushing” it towards what is now a new mudroom and powder room area. This solution allows for a small but functional and hidden mudroom area and more private powder room situation. Another challenge of the design was the very narrow space. To minimize issues with this, we moved the location of the refrigerator into the newly found space which gave us an L-shaped layout allowing for an island and even some shallow pantry storage. The windows over the kitchen sink were expanded in size and relocated to allow more light into the room. A breakfast table fits perfectly in the area adjacent to the existing French doors and there was even room for a small bar area that helps transition from inside to outside for entertaining. The confusing unused space now makes sense and provides functionality on a daily basis. To help bring some calm to this busy family, a pallet of soft neutrals was chosen -- gray glass tile with a simple metal accent strip, clear modern pendant lights and a neutral color scheme for cabinetry and countertops. For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Refinished fireplace
Large minimalist backyard concrete paver patio photo in Los Angeles with a fireplace and a gazebo