This kitchen was a great Refresh candidate with its dated door design, dated wood color, exposed hinges and dated hardware.
Example of a kitchen design in Other

The master bathroom was the first area to address. Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc. was chosen among many candidates for her expertise in remodeling. Design plans, elevations for cabinets and tile were as well as all materials. A contractor was chosen by the clients to do the demo and replace the tile and install all the materials chosen by Arlene. The clients loved the idea of a stand-alone tub that became of the focal point of the room. New cabinets were designed with soft close doors and drawers in a washed oak finish. The mirrors were a chrome frame, custom made for the area, while the sconces add an extra design element. The shower was customized for steam with high Euro glass panels and chrome fixtures. The tile accents, the quartz bench and niches an add height and interest to the overall style and design of this custom shower. The clients love their new master bathroom. With newly added lights and natural daylight the room sparkles. It was exactly what they had in mind when they purchased the home. Design Connection, Inc. provided: space plans and elevations, tile, countertops, plumbing, lighting fixtures and project management.

In a leafy Madrid neighborhood, the designer converts a former wax factory into a graceful home and work space. Waterworks Empire tub featured in the master bath.

Decisively Candid
Example of a mid-sized trendy l-shaped medium tone wood floor eat-in kitchen design in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, granite countertops, black backsplash, glass tile backsplash, black appliances and no island

In the guest bathroom, we used complementary finishes that coordinate with the rest of the condo. The hexagon floor tiles are well suited for the uniquely shaped bathroom and the porcelain perfectly captures the appearance of classic Carrara marble. Elongated white subway tile is paired with a simple band of marble accent tile and two marble shelves complete the look. The deep modern bathtub provides the owners with an option if they ever want to take a long relaxing soak.

Decisively Candid
Large elegant u-shaped ceramic tile eat-in kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, yellow cabinets, granite countertops, beige backsplash, stone tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Vitex, or Chaste Tree, is a vibrant summer bloomer with fragrant violet flowers and handsome grey-green foliage. Its multi-trunk form and rapid growth rate make it a great deciduous hedge and specimen tree candidate.

Burma Teak marble and wood ceilings are the perfect offset to the stainless Waterworks tub.
Freestanding bathtub - large contemporary multicolored tile and stone slab freestanding bathtub idea in San Diego with brown walls

Due to the pandemic we were unable to take professional photos - candid photos of house remodel throughout the year of the design/ remodel The Carlsbad Home in the Carlsbad Estates Near the Beach had a full redesign and home remodel on the first floor. The home was opened up and the kitchen was moved to the other side of the home. We added a marble island that was a show stopper, within the kitchen that was large open to the outdoors. With new 100 ft windows throughout the living room and the indoor outdoor living was complimented with textured walls, wood floors, amazing show stopping lights, and details of tiles. Located in the prestigious Carlsbad Estates near the beach, this home underwent a complete first-floor redesign and remodel. The transformation that we did with our General Contractor features an open-concept layout with a relocated kitchen, now boasting a stunning marble island that serves as a showpiece. This spacious kitchen seamlessly opens to the outdoors, creating an ideal space for entertaining. Key elements of the remodel include: 100 ft Windows: These expansive windows in the living room enhance the indoor-outdoor living experience, flooding the space with natural light. Textured Walls & Wood Floors: These features add warmth and character, complementing the open layout. Show-Stopping Lighting: Unique lighting fixtures throughout the home create a striking ambiance. Tile Details: Carefully selected tiles add a touch of elegance and individuality. The remodel also introduced: A new guest bathroom A modern laundry room An additional bedroom A built-in bar area in the living room for easy entertaining This beautiful and open space, completed over a year and a half, is now light, bright, and perfect for a young family to grow. The meticulous design and thoughtful details make this Carlsbad home a true masterpiece.

Red Lace Leaf Japanese Maple provides the back drop for the Tulips and Hellebores Lush Custom Gardening
Photo of a small craftsman shade backyard landscaping in Boise for spring.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

A frame ranch home to be a candidate for demolition and the lot subdivided into 2 new custom home sites. Project location: Burbank, IL. the arrow points to the water b-box location

Dale of Clearlake, CA is another happy homeowner who has gone solar with national solar installer Green Solar Technologies. His 5.8 kW SolarWorld system was designed by the GST engineer team to perfectly match his annual electricity requirements. GST took care of the entire solar process, answering his questions and handling the system design, financing applications, permitting, and solar panel installation. Dale’s home was a perfect candidate for solar because he had no trees or buildings obstructing the path of sun to his roof. He now has permission to operate and is generating his own electricity to power his home. Green Solar Technologies is proud to welcome Dale into the green energy movement. His 20 panel PV system is in full working order and is protected by a 25 year warranty.

Monique de la Cruz of Cozy and Candid
Transitional family room photo in Vancouver

This fireplace surround is comprised of four equal sections. After careful consideration the clients whited to have this piece look as symmetrical as possible. The overall height of this piece is 10' and the width is 6', making GFRC a prime candidate for its construction.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   The Klimala’s and their three kids are no strangers to moving, this being their fifth house in the same town over the 20-year period they have lived there. “It must be the 7-year itch, because every seven years, we seem to find ourselves antsy for a new project or a new environment. I think part of it is being a designer, I see my own taste evolve and I want my environment to reflect that. Having easy access to wonderful tradesmen and a knowledge of the process makes it that much easier”. This time, Klimala’s fell in love with a somewhat unlikely candidate. The 1950’s ranch turned cape cod was a bit of a mutt, but it’s location 5 minutes from their design studio and backing up to the high school where their kids can roll out of bed and walk to school, coupled with the charm of its location on a private road and lush landscaping made it an appealing choice for them. “The bones of the house were really charming. It was typical 1,500 square foot ranch that at some point someone added a second floor to. Its sloped roofline and dormered bedrooms gave it some charm.” With the help of architect Maureen McHugh, Klimala’s gutted and reworked the layout to make the house work for them. An open concept kitchen and dining room allows for more frequent casual family dinners and dinner parties that linger. A dingy 3-season room off the back of the original house was insulated, given a vaulted ceiling with skylights and now opens up to the kitchen. This room now houses an 8’ raw edge white oak dining table and functions as an informal dining room. “One of the challenges with these mid-century homes is the 8’ ceilings. I had to have at least one room that had a higher ceiling so that’s how we did it” states Klimala. The kitchen features a 10’ island which houses a 5’0” Galley Sink. The Galley features two faucets, and double tiered rail system to which accessories such as cutting boards and stainless steel bowls can be added for ease of cooking. Across from the large sink is an induction cooktop. “My two teen daughters and I enjoy cooking, and the Galley and induction cooktop make it so easy.” A wall of tall cabinets features a full size refrigerator, freezer, double oven and built in coffeemaker. The area on the opposite end of the kitchen features a pantry with mirrored glass doors and a beverage center below. The rest of the first floor features an entry way, a living room with views to the front yard’s lush landscaping, a family room where the family hangs out to watch TV, a back entry from the garage with a laundry room and mudroom area, one of the home’s four bedrooms and a full bath. There is a double sided fireplace between the family room and living room. The home features pops of color from the living room’s peach grass cloth to purple painted wall in the family room. “I’m definitely a traditionalist at heart but because of the home’s Midcentury roots, I wanted to incorporate some of those elements into the furniture, lighting and accessories which also ended up being really fun. We are not formal people so I wanted a house that my kids would enjoy, have their friends over and feel comfortable.” The second floor houses the master bedroom suite, two of the kids’ bedrooms and a back room nicknamed “the library” because it has turned into a quiet get away area where the girls can study or take a break from the rest of the family. The area was originally unfinished attic, and because the home was short on closet space, this Jack and Jill area off the girls’ bedrooms houses two large walk-in closets and a small sitting area with a makeup vanity. “The girls really wanted to keep the exposed brick of the fireplace that runs up the through the space, so that’s what we did, and I think they feel like they are in their own little loft space in the city when they are up there” says Klimala. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Carlos Vergara For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Inspiration for a mid-century modern kitchen remodel in Minneapolis with flat-panel cabinets

Check out this Sun Valley, Idaho net-zero property on 300 of the most pristine private acres with Hyndman Creek running through it. That made this project a perfect candidate for combining a 5kW continuous 24/7 and 365 days a year micro-hydro power system with solar thermal on the pool house, guest house, and main house. The ranch had 8M BTUs running the electric/propane boilers for the snow melt system alone, add another 8M BTUs to heat the facilities and it’s no wonder they had to replace the utility meters every year due to excessive wear. We were able to offset all loads, heat the pool, and enable the property owner to eliminate ~ $300,000/year in propane and electric bills. No more need to constantly replace the utility meter! Click link to see more of this picture perfect property. https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/300-Hyndman-Creek-Rd_Ketchum_ID_83340_M22603-68969

Stunning classic master in carrara marble, dual washstand and Waterworks freestanding tub.
Large elegant white tile and stone tile marble floor bathroom photo in San Diego with a console sink, a one-piece toilet and white walls