Search results for "Business structure" in Home Design Ideas

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

The Calhoun Leather Recliner not only boasts in beauty, but in comfort as well. Made with 100% top grain leather and premium cowhide accents. Our Calhoun Leather Recliner is perfect to brighten up your living space, the neutral and light color tones of the Calhoun Leather Recliner allow you to easily contrast darker furniture and decor pieces. The oversized bustle back provides amble neck, head and lower back support. This fine leather chair is 100% American Made to the highest standards of quality!
Dimensions: 43" H x 38.5" W x 36" D
Seat Depth: 21"
Seat Height: 20"
Arm Height: 24"
Leather Description: A There is no need to compromise beauty over performance. This Ivory colored leather offers a soft supple hand similar to that of an aniline leather. During the dyeing process, this leather is aniline dyed and a pigmented layer is added for color consistency and texture. This pigmented layer also, adds a protective performance coating and durability against daily stains and spills making the leather designed to perform in high traffic areas such as residential family rooms, commercial office spaces and hospitality applications. Ultimately, the leather is fade resistant and is the perfect high performing leather.
*Please note that all cowhides are natural and have unique characteristics. Please talk with one of our designers to hand pick the perfect chair for you.
Frame Construction: Using traditional hand craftsmanship with modern manufacturing methods to produce frames that are among the finest used in the upholstery business. Each frame is precisely cut and hand assembled using kilned dried lumber. Double dowels are utilized in all structural parts to form sturdy, long lasting joints. To complete construction and add stability to the frame, large precisely cut corner blocks are positioned at each corner where the greatest stress occurs using both glues and screws.

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.
Find the right local pro for your project

In our busy lives, creating a peaceful and rejuvenating home environment is essential to a healthy lifestyle. Built less than five years ago, this Stinson Beach Modern home is your own private oasis. Surrounded by a butterfly preserve and unparalleled ocean views, the home will lead you to a sense of connection with nature. As you enter an open living room space that encompasses a kitchen, dining area, and living room, the inspiring contemporary interior invokes a sense of relaxation, that stimulates the senses. The open floor plan and modern finishes create a soothing, tranquil, and uplifting atmosphere. The house is approximately 2900 square feet, has three (to possibly five) bedrooms, four bathrooms, an outdoor shower and spa, a full office, and a media room. Its two levels blend into the hillside, creating privacy and quiet spaces within an open floor plan and feature spectacular views from every room. The expansive home, decks and patios presents the most beautiful sunsets as well as the most private and panoramic setting in all of Stinson Beach. One of the home's noteworthy design features is a peaked roof that uses Kalwall's translucent day-lighting system, the most highly insulating, diffuse light-transmitting, structural panel technology. This protected area on the hill provides a dramatic roar from the ocean waves but without any of the threats of oceanfront living. Built on one of the last remaining one-acre coastline lots on the west side of the hill at Stinson Beach, the design of the residence is site friendly, using materials and finishes that meld into the hillside. The landscaping features low-maintenance succulents and butterfly friendly plantings appropriate for the adjacent Monarch Butterfly Preserve. Recalibrate your dreams in this natural environment, and make the choice to live in complete privacy on this one acre retreat. This home includes Miele appliances, Thermadore refrigerator and freezer, an entire home water filtration system, kitchen and bathroom cabinetry by SieMatic, Ceasarstone kitchen counter tops, hardwood and Italian ceramic radiant tile floors using Warmboard technology, Electric blinds, Dornbracht faucets, Kalwall skylights throughout livingroom and garage, Jeldwen windows and sliding doors. Located 5-8 minute walk to the ocean, downtown Stinson and the community center. It is less than a five minute walk away from the trail heads such as Steep Ravine and Willow Camp.

The Newport Cabinet line is a live and exclusive extension of our kitchen and bath cabinet collection. Having a simplistic and fresh structure, Newport cabinet series represents an authentic quality of original cabinetry construction by integrating smooth, elegant shapes visible throughout its unique styling. To make matters easy going, this set doesn’t pursue immediate attention but rather leaves a room for a wide diversity of design, colors, shades, and tones.
For those wanting a higher futuristic atmosphere, you should prefer an option of picking out unorthodox mixtures of colors and also going for straightforward and simple congruous shapes found in the likes of illuminated accessories and equal proportioned kitchen tableware. The organically brownish brilliance of timber undeniably gives away the presence of its rural inheritance. Using a primary light color such as white, you can re-invent the warm, intimate feel of a cabin paired with a few circular water faucets and accessories to further dissolve tension in a room.
Specifications
• All Wood Construction
• Full Overlay
• Stained Maple
• Solid Wood Drawer Fronts
• Cam-Lock Assembly System
• 5/8" Plywood Nailer
• 1/2" Top and Bottom Plywood
• 1/2" End Panels Finished Plywood
• 3/4" Solid Wood 5-Piece Frame Veneer Raised Panel Doors
• Adjustable Concealed Hinges
• 3/4" Thick Plywood Shelves
• 3/4" Thick Solid Wood Frame
• 5/8 Plywood Back Rail
• Polymer Corner Block
• 1/2" Finished Plywood End Panels
• 5/8" Wood Drawer Box
• 1/4" Plywood Drawer Box Bottom
• Undermount Glides
• 3/4" Slab Solid Wood Drawer Front
• 3/4" Thick Half-Depth Veneer Shelves
• 1/2" Finished Plywood Bottom
Click the link below to build and order your kitchen with our convenient online ordering system.

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Wannemacher Interiors
Customized Award-Winning Interior Design Solutions in Franklin Cnty OH

Koti Resorts
(Hotel Project)
Constructed commenced 1991
Location : Baldeyan, Himachal Pradesh
GENESIS OF A HOTEL PROJECT - KOTI RESORTS, NALDHERA, SHIMLA
How does a Newbie make an entry into the HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY.......???
Or, to be specific – HOW DOES ONE MAKE A HOTEL...... GET INTO THE HOTEL BUSINESS...???
Agreed, the business of teaching/learning of getting into this mammoth Industry is also BIG BUSINESS. Considering that almost each and every city in the country has several institutes/colleges/ and even University departments have jumped onto the band wagon of this reasonably popular academic course.
So when a long time friend from the neighbourhood wanted to start a new business/career on a family held plot in the hills – it smelled like a good opportunity. As a student of the University, he was also accidentally pushed into the “business” of running the University Cafeteria – which was on contract to some people. The student leaders (he was part of the Association) were dared to take over the Cafeteria and run it themselves if they had a problem with the then management.
Obviously, EGOS got hurt, and one doesn’t DARE a bunch of University leaders of the Student body running the roost.
So initial experience taught them supply chain management, financial acumen, human resource management, and of course – all about food. All components of running a ‘dicey operation’ such as a Student cafeteria in a volatile environment were experienced and the nut and bolts of the business learnt the hard way.
So it was full confidence and a positive gut feeling that this friend took that momentous decision. And the idea germinated.
Remember when we (almost the entire extended family from here in the plains + the rest from the hills) took off to Shimla to case the joint – to put mildly. Would’ve been summertime then – is all that I can remember.
Caught up with the ‘hill party’ at Shimla for further going towards the Naldhera Golf Course, where we were booked for lunch. The site was en route – a few strokes short, as ad people would put it, of the Golf Course...
On a hilltop called Baldeyan.
Anyway, after the family divisions of the land parcel ownership was settled, we (my friend and yours truly) spent some time at the site to figure out the way ahead. Ideas flew back and forth, including some number crunching – and just like that we zeroed in onto making a Resort Hotel. In the middle of a wild nowhere – with great views all around.
Shimla town visible at 7 o’clock (S/SW), and the snow capped peaks of the Upper Himalayas ranging from the North to the ESE (say 4 o’clock) the radio mast tower dead North, and the Craignano peak due South (that’s where Shimla’s water supply tanks are located}.
The location was a gift from heaven.
And the matter was settled – we all agreed that it was so......!!!!
So the next step – what kind of hotel do we plan for??? What kind of target customer, tariff, rooms, program...........and a thousand other questions befuddled us. I suggested going to a Hotel Consultant.
No ego!
So the both of us drove down to Delhi after zeroing in to the offices of Mr. AN Haksar (the recently retd Chairman of the ITC) – who had only recently set up this office. It hurt when we agreed to pay 1/2 a lakh as consultancy fees – in spite of me being the designated Architect for the job. But then.........cie la vie..........!!!!
Such is life!!!
We got into a quick learning curve of hotel industry terms, and practices. Of things like Occupancy rates, the ARR, peak season rates, and various depts. like F&B, Housekeeping, etc. But what the heck – we both were in our thirties.......!!!
And lapped up the learning without any fuss. And joyfully agreed when they said they’d do the hand holding for a while after the hotel started business.
Of course we’d agree – after all AN Haksar was the Chairman Emeritus of the ITC group – that super successful upstart in the Hotel Industry. With the Hotel Mughal Agra, the ITC Chola, the ITC Maurya, and the ITC Grand Kakatiya, amongst other successful Iconic properties under their belt.
I had already made up my mind on NOT DESTROYING THE ENVIRONMENT with a multi-floor frame structure that was standard pattern in the desecration of the hills. So a low rise low floor concept was a given. And that’s what we did – to achieve what we’d like to think of as the pioneer of hill resort hotel design character.........
We were already in competition with another resort being planned some distance away near Chail – another great resort hotel, and the game was on.
After getting sanctions and a starter loan from the HP SIDC, we borrowed money from family and friends, and – in a small Maruti 800 – took off for the site one summer morning. Also in the car back seat was my old mistri (now appointed thekedar) and his ‘brother mistri’......from their village in UP.
Stopped for a quick lunch immediately after crossing the Dhalli Tunnel, and the on to the site.
Now after throwing all tenets of site planning and architecture down the hill, one walked around to locate the point where we would start CONSTRUCTION OF THE RESORT HOTEL.
Took a few minutes (remember we were freshers in our thirties) and within the hour had laid out the foundation plan for the 1 st Block. Another added advantage – there were no site boundaries and no benchmarks to go by – excepting an old stone water tank used by the village below. And a few pipes going down from there.
Meanwhile left the contractor there in the wilderness for him to locate his construction huts, approach roads, material dump spaces, etc. No idea how he managed.
Within a month we were well into the making of the first ‘residential hut’ that one had envisaged. A block of four rooms – with outer rooms a bit larger with a separate dining space. And a vestibule as one entered. The toilets were located between the dining & bedroom spaces – and well ventilated. There was also an open lobby between the four rooms – giving safe access to all. And interesting approaches planned as per site conditions. With built in housekeeping stores, etc under the staircase landings. And space for 2-3 kilo-liters of water tanks
for the 8 rooms/suites per block.
One also planned for a central heating system – with insulated pipes servicing each block. A/C s were not even in our minds – but we were forced to install them later because of global warming and climate change. Neither were the ubiquitous ceiling fans - which are nowadays a must have in the towns of Shimla and Solan. Among other hill stations.....!!!
In fact one got insulated cavity walls made under duress...........a fact appreciated much later in life.
Incidentally, I think the cost of petrol was around Re. 8/50 or something those days, and it was easier on the pocket to drive up to the site beyond Shimla than stay over night in a hotel. And the Mandal Commission agitation had made us night birds on the highways to Shimla.
VP Singh was the PM, and globalisation of the economy had yet to take birth...........!!!!
The hotel had a soft opening in 1991, I think.
And the first customer stayed for a week. And then came back after a sort while to stay for a month. We felt vindicated.
And the Hotel has never looked back ever since.
designed by www.MetamorphosisDesign.org
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This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

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.

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

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Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Structural Remodeling
Franklin County's Heavy Timber Specialists | Best of Houzz 2020!

The River Bluff Beauty is one of our favorite remodels from 2024 as this is a space that stayed with in the original footprint yet was a very dramatic change from before to after. Its always a good lesson to remember how the right design along with color, a mixture of materials, and creativity can amply elevate a space with out a major addition or structural changes. A number one ask of the homeowner: no white painted cabinets!! So we proposed a more moody theme and used a unique palette of finishes with Dusk Stain over walnut in a thin shaker door, complimented with natural walnut accents & warm walnut interiors. Dusk is an artisan finish in an opaque stain creating a rich gray tone, with underlying warmth of the wood peaking through. We used natural quartzite counter tops in a soft matte finish for both counters and the full height backsplash, creating a clean flow there helped the space seem more connected and less busy to the eye. A special feature just off the kitchen was a small wine bar and liquor storage cabinet wrapped in walnut waterfall counters, what once was a lose furniture piece now is a beautiful and coordinated extension of the room. Another gorgeous detail was the remodeling of the two-sided fireplace area, this was a fairly major change that did open up the view between kitchen dining and living as well as the view of their great wooded property. We worked with a furniture maker to create a one of a kind modern wood surround made of white oak and walnut and paired with a pressed somewhat rustic concrete that has a blend of gray and taupe’s to blend with the rest of the new color scheme.

Stuart Wade, Envision Virtual Tours
The second-largest and most developed of Georgia's barrier islands, St. Simons is approximately twelve miles long and nearly three miles wide at its widest stretch (roughly the size of Manhattan Island in New York). The island is located in Glynn County on Georgia's coast and lies east of Brunswick (the seat of Glynn County), south of Little St. Simons Island and the Hampton River, and north of Jekyll Island. The resort community of Sea Island is separated from St. Simons on the east by the Black Banks River. Known for its oak tree canopies and historic landmarks, St. Simons is both a tourist destination and, according to the 2010 U.S. census, home to 12,743 residents.
Early History
The earliest
St. Simons Island Village
record of human habitation on the island dates to the Late Archaic Period, about 5,000 to 3,000 years ago. Remnants of shell rings left behind by Native Americans from this era survive on many of the barrier islands, including St. Simons. Centuries later, during the period known by historians as the chiefdom era, the Guale Indians established a chiefdom centered on St. Catherines Island and used St. Simons as their hunting and fishing grounds. By 1500 the Guale had established a permanent village of about 200 people on St. Simons, which they called Guadalquini.
Beginning in 1568, the Spanish attempted to create missions along the Georgia coast. Catholic missions were the primary means by which Georgia's indigenous Native American chiefdoms were assimilated into the Spanish colonial system along the northern frontier of greater Spanish Florida. In the 1600s St. Simons became home to two Spanish missions: San Buenaventura de Guadalquini, on the southern tip of the island, and Santo Domingo de Asao (or Asajo), on the northern tip. Located on the inland side of the island were the pagan refugee villages of San Simón, the island's namesake, and Ocotonico. In 1684 pirate raids left the missions and villages largely abandoned.
Colonial History
As
Fort Frederica
early as 1670, with Great Britain's establishment of the colony of Carolina and its expansion into Georgia territory, Spanish rule was threatened by the English. The Georgia coast was considered "debatable land" by England and Spain, even though Spain had fully retreated from St. Simons by 1702. Thirty-one years later General James Edward Oglethorpe founded the English settlement of Savannah. In 1736 he established Fort Frederica, named after the heir to the British throne, Frederick Louis, prince of Wales, on the west side of St. Simons Island to protect Savannah and the Carolinas from the Spanish threat.
Between 1736 and 1749 Fort Frederica was the hub of British military operations along the Georgia frontier. A town of the same name grew up around the fort and was of great importance to the new colony. By 1740 Frederica's population was 1,000. In 1736 the congregation of what would become Christ Church was organized within Fort Frederica as a mission of the Church of England. Charles Wesley led the first services. In 1742 Britain's decisive victory over Spain in the Battle of Bloody Marsh, during the War of Jenkins' Ear, ended the Spanish threat to the Georgia coast. When the British regimen disbanded in 1749, most of the townspeople relocated to the mainland. Fort Frederica went into decline and, except for a short time of prosperity during the 1760s and 1770s under the leadership of merchant James Spalding, never fully recovered. Today the historic citadel's tabby ruins are maintained by the National Park Service.
Plantation Era
By the start of the American Revolution (1775-83), Fort Frederica was obsolete, and St. Simons was left largely uninhabited as most of its residents joined the patriot army. Besides hosting a small Georgia naval victory on the Fort Frederica River, providing guns from its famous fort for use at Fort Morris in Sunbury, and serving as an arena for pillaging by privateers and British soldiers, the island played almost no role in the war.
Following the war, many of the townspeople, their businesses destroyed, turned to agriculture. The island was transformed into fourteen cotton plantations after acres of live oak trees were cleared for farm land and used for building American warships, including the famous USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides." Although rice was the predominant crop along the neighboring Altamaha River, St. Simons was known for its production of long-staple cotton, which soon came to be known as Sea Island cotton.
Between
Ebos Landing
the 1780s and the outbreak of the Civil War (1861-65), St. Simons's plantation culture flourished. The saline atmosphere and the availability of cheap slave labor proved an ideal combination for the cultivation of Sea Island cotton. In 1803 a group of Ebo slaves who survived the Middle Passage and arrived on the west side of St. Simons staged a rebellion and drowned themselves. The sacred site is known today as Ebos Landing.
One of the largest owners of land and slaves on St. Simons was Pierce Butler, master of Hampton Point Plantation, located on the northern end of the island. By 1793 Butler owned more than 500 slaves, who cultivated 800 acres of cotton on St. Simons and 300 acres of rice on Butler's Island in the Altamaha River delta. Butler's grandson, Pierce Mease Butler, who at the age of sixteen inherited a share of his grandfather's estate in 1826, was responsible for the largest sale of human beings in the history of the United States: in 1859, to restore his squandered fortune, he sold 429 slaves in Savannah for more than $300,000. The British actress and writer Fanny Kemble, whose tumultuous marriage to Pierce ended in divorce in 1849, published an eyewitness account of the evils of slavery on St. Simons in her book Journal of a Residence on a Georgian Plantation in 1838-1839 (1863).
Another
Retreat Plantation
large owner of land and slaves on St. Simons was Major William Page, a friend and employee of Pierce Butler Sr. Before purchasing Retreat Plantation on the southwestern tip of the island in 1804, Page managed the Hampton plantation and Butler's Island. Upon Page's death in 1827, Thomas Butler King inherited the land together with his wife, Page's daughter, Anna Matilda Page King. King expanded his father-in-law's planting empire on St. Simons as well as on the mainland, and by 1835 Retreat Plantation alone was home to as many as 355 slaves.
The center of life during the island's plantation era was Christ Church, Frederica. Organized in 1807 by a group of island planters, the Episcopal church is the second oldest in the Diocese of Georgia. Embargoes imposed by the War of 1812 (1812-15) prevented the parishioners from building a church structure, so they worshiped in the home of John Beck, which stood on the site of Oglethorpe's only St. Simons residence, Orange Hall.
The first Christ Church building, finished on the present site in 1820, was ruined by occupying Union troops during the Civil War. In 1884 the Reverend Anson Dodge Jr. rebuilt the church as a memorial to his first wife, Ellen. The cruciform building with a trussed gothic roof and stained-glass windows remains active today as Christ Church.
Civil War and Beyond
The
St. Simons Island Lighthouse
outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 put a sudden end to St. Simons's lucrative plantation era. In January of that year, Confederate troops were stationed at the south end of the island to guard the entrance to Brunswick Harbor. Slaves from Retreat Plantation, owned by Thomas Butler King, built earthworks and batteries. Plantation residents were scattered—the men joined the Confederate army and their families moved to the mainland. Cannon fire was heard on the island in December 1861, and Confederate troops retreated in February 1862, after dynamiting the lighthouse to keep its beacon from aiding Union troops. Soon thereafter, Union troops occupied the island, which was used as a camp for freed slaves. By August 1862 more than 500 former slaves lived on St. Simons, including Susie King Taylor, who organized a school for freed slave children. But in November the ex-slaves were taken to Hilton Head, South Carolina, and Fernandina, Florida, leaving the island abandoned.
After the Civil War the island never returned to its status as an agricultural community. The plantations lay dormant because there were no slaves to work the fields. After Union general William T. Sherman's January 1865 Special Field Order No. 15 —a demand that former plantations be divided and distributed to former slaves—was overturned by U.S. president Andrew Johnson less than a year later, freedmen and women were forced to work as sharecroppers on the small farms that dotted the land previously occupied by the sprawling plantations.
By
St. Simons Lumber Mills
1870 real economic recovery began with the reestablishment of the timber industry. Norman Dodge and Titus G. Meigs of New York set up lumber mill operations at Gascoigne Bluff, formerly Hamilton Plantation. The lumber mills provided welcome employment for both blacks and whites and also provided mail and passenger boats to the mainland. Such water traffic, together with the construction of a new lighthouse in 1872, designed by architect Charles B. Cluskey, marked the beginning of St. Simons's tourism industry. The keeper of the lighthouse created a small amusement park, which drew many visitors, as did the seemingly miraculous light that traveled from the top of the lighthouse tower to the bottom. The island became a summer retreat for families from the mainland, particularly from Baxley, Brunswick, and Waycross.
The island's resort industry was thriving by the 1880s. Beachfront structures, such as a new pier and grand hotel, were built on the southeastern end of the island and could be accessed by ferry. Around this time wealthy northerners began vacationing on the island.
Twentieth Century
The
St. Simons Island Pier and Village
opening in 1924 of the Brunswick–St. Simons Highway, today known as the Torras Causeway, was a milestone in the development of resorts in the area. St. Simons's beaches were now easily accessible to locals and tourists alike. More than 5,000 automobiles took the short drive from Brunswick to St. Simons via the causeway on its opening day, paving the way for convenient residential and resort development.
In 1926 automotive pioneer Howard Coffin of Detroit, Michigan, bought large tracts of land on St. Simons, including the former Retreat Plantation, and constructed a golf course, yacht club, paved roads, and a residential subdivision. Although the causeway had brought large numbers of summer people to the island, St. Simons remained a small community with only a few hundred permanent residents until the 1940s.
The
St. Simons Island
outbreak of World War II (1941-45) brought more visitors and residents to St. Simons. Troops stationed at Jacksonville, Florida; Savannah; and nearby Camp Stewart took weekend vacations on the island, and a new naval air base and radar school became home to even more officers and soldiers. The increased wartime population brought the island its first public school. With a major shipyard for the production of Liberty ships in nearby Brunswick, the waters of St. Simons became active with German U-boats. In April 1942, just off the coast, the Texas Company oil tanker S. S. Oklahoma and the S. S. Esso Baton Rouge were torpedoed by the Germans, bringing the war very close to home for island residents.
Due in large part to the military's improvement of the island's infrastructure during the war, development on the island boomed in the 1950s and 1960s. More permanent homes and subdivisions were built, and the island was no longer just a summer resort but also a thriving community. In 1950 the Methodist conference and retreat center Epworth by the Sea opened on Gascoigne Bluff. In 1961 novelist Eugenia Price visited St. Simons and began work on her first works of fiction, known as the St. Simons Trilogy. Inspired by real events on the island, Price's trilogy renewed interest in the history of Georgia's coast, and the novelist herself relocated to the island in 1965 and lived there for thirty-one years. St. Simons is also home to contemporary Georgia writer Tina McElroy Ansa.
Since
Epworth by the Sea
1980 St. Simons's population has doubled. The island's continued status as a vacation destination and its ongoing development boom have put historic landmarks and natural areas at risk. While such landmarks as the Fort Frederica ruins and the Battle of Bloody Marsh site are preserved and maintained by the National Park Service, and while the historic lighthouse is maintained by the Coastal Georgia Historical Society, historic Ebos Landing has been taken over by a sewage treatment plant.
Several coastal organizations have formed in recent years to save natural areas on the island. The St. Simons Land Trust, for example, has received donations of large tracts of land and plans to protect property in the island's three traditional African American neighborhoods. Despite its rapid growth and development, St. Simons remains one of the most beautiful and important islands on the Georgia coast.

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

This kitchen came together with Ornamental White granite on the counters. No waterfall, no fancy backsplash story here, just solid granite doing what granite does best, holding up to real cooking and real life in a busy South Carolina kitchen.
We finished the edges with an eased profile, which is the detail people don't think about until they're leaning on the counter every day. An eased edge takes the sharp corner off the slab and rounds it just enough so it's comfortable to work against, without adding a bunch of extra machining that can chip or crack down the line. It's a clean, classic look that doesn't fight with the granite's natural pattern, and it wears well over years of use.
Granite is still one of the best choices you can put in a kitchen. It's hard, it's heat resistant, and you can set a hot pan on it without worrying. It'll take a knife dragged across it by accident and shrug it off. Every slab has its own movement in the stone, its own crystal structure catching light differently depending on where you stand, and templating a kitchen like this means matching that pattern at the seams so it reads like one continuous piece instead of two pieces bolted together.
Day to day, this countertop is going to earn its keep. Granite seals up easily and, once it's sealed, it resists staining from wine, oil, coffee, whatever gets set down on it. It doesn't scratch from normal kitchen use, and it doesn't dull over time the way some softer stones can. That's why we keep coming back to it for kitchens that actually get used, not just looked at.
We fabricate and install jobs like this all over the Midlands, and it's the same story every time: good stone, cut right, set level, edges finished clean. That's what makes a countertop last for decades instead of years, and that's what you're getting here.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Structural Remodeling
Franklin County's Heavy Timber Specialists | Best of Houzz 2020!

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.

This kitchen came together with Ornamental White granite on the counters. No waterfall, no fancy backsplash story here, just solid granite doing what granite does best, holding up to real cooking and real life in a busy South Carolina kitchen.
We finished the edges with an eased profile, which is the detail people don't think about until they're leaning on the counter every day. An eased edge takes the sharp corner off the slab and rounds it just enough so it's comfortable to work against, without adding a bunch of extra machining that can chip or crack down the line. It's a clean, classic look that doesn't fight with the granite's natural pattern, and it wears well over years of use.
Granite is still one of the best choices you can put in a kitchen. It's hard, it's heat resistant, and you can set a hot pan on it without worrying. It'll take a knife dragged across it by accident and shrug it off. Every slab has its own movement in the stone, its own crystal structure catching light differently depending on where you stand, and templating a kitchen like this means matching that pattern at the seams so it reads like one continuous piece instead of two pieces bolted together.
Day to day, this countertop is going to earn its keep. Granite seals up easily and, once it's sealed, it resists staining from wine, oil, coffee, whatever gets set down on it. It doesn't scratch from normal kitchen use, and it doesn't dull over time the way some softer stones can. That's why we keep coming back to it for kitchens that actually get used, not just looked at.
We fabricate and install jobs like this all over the Midlands, and it's the same story every time: good stone, cut right, set level, edges finished clean. That's what makes a countertop last for decades instead of years, and that's what you're getting here.

This 1980’s colonial home in the heart of McLean, VA is home to a busy family of four who had been searching for ideas in Houzz for a long time.
The previous kitchen was a dungeon-like maze, small and dark, front dining room was outdated, the powder room and pantry wrapped around a stack of duct pipes.
After meeting with our design staff, we came up with plenty of recommendations which they loved.
Our expert team set out to, eliminate the powder room from the middle of the kitchen and relocate to far end of a dead space in family room, eliminate closet and stack of second floor ducts, widen doorway to foyer with structural beam, widen window above sink to allow more daylight, relocate the back door to allow more cabinet space to the right of the sink, take down a major cinder block and brick wall separating family room from kitchen, inserting steel beam and steel post opening the entire kitchen to family room and adding floor space to kitchen.
We implemented a large Island with dark black contrasting stain in the middle of kitchen space. Island includes a bar, sink, microwave and beverage center built in.
Our designers suggested a polished marble backsplash with a chevron pattern behind the stove to make the kitchen stand taller.
Clever use of various lighting sources and contrasting cabinet colors off set the unique three-inch thick soapstone island countertop.
Complete with large-scale appliances, such as 48-inch steam oven, 48-inch tower fridge/freezer and others, we completely updated this 1980’s kitchen.
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