Learn more about this kitchen remodel at the link above. Email me at carla@carlaaston.com to receive access to the list of paint colors used on this project. Title your email: "Heights Project Paint Colors".

The master plan for this south-facing woodland property celebrates dramatic topography, muscular canopy trees, remnant fieldstone walls, and native stone outcroppings. Sound vegetation management principles guide each phase of installation, and the true character of the woodland is revealed. Stone walls form terraces that traverse native topography, and a meticulously crafted stone staircase provides casual passage to a gently sloping lawn knoll carved from the existing hillside. Lush perennial borders and native plant stands create edges and thresholds, and a crisp palette of traditional and contemporary materials merge––building upon the surrounding topography and site geology.

Rarebrick
Example of an eclectic medium tone wood floor single front door design in Boston with a black front door and multicolored walls

Laurey W. Glenn (courtesy Southern Living)
Cottage claw-foot bathtub photo in Atlanta

A remodeled entry courtyard garden with modern accents. The Garden Route Co designed and built the entry garden and courtyard along with custom outdoor furniture and metal water feature. Photos by Rich Radford

This 1950s home got a major update and addition. It went from a modest three bedroom, two bath house to a beautiful five bedroom, four bath house. Our clients were outgrowing their home but loved their neighborhood and didn't want to move. So they decided to modify their existing home to bring it up to speed with their family's needs. The main goals were to enlarge the main living spaces and make the floor plan more open. This was primarily achieved by adding a second story which allowed new bedrooms to be created, freeing up space on the main floor for a larger kitchen, dining room, and living room. The soothing creams, blues, grays, and warm wood tones used throughout help make this home inviting, and the craftsman details add charm and character, ensuring our clients will be proud to call this space "home" for years to come.

NY Times On Location column: Every Last Thing Finally in Its Place (Sept. 5th 2012); Photo Credit: Trevor Tondro
Bedroom - eclectic medium tone wood floor bedroom idea in New York

Super White Quartzite along with Espresso Shaker Style cabinets were installed to bring this dated kitchen up to speed in style and function. The homeowner's love to cook and entertain and needed a durable and low maintenance product to meet their needs. Quartzite, a denser and stronger product than granite was suggested as it is highly stain and chip resistant. Full height application of quartzite gave the kitchen a modern seamless look and offset client's dark cabinets and floors beautifully. Our designer redesigned the space with re-location of refrigerator and island to give the homeowner's more counter and storage space. The island with laminated mitered edge is the focal point of the kitchen and is a definite conversation starter. Precision Stone Design

Our 1917 bathroom had lost its character somewhere along the way and after the toilet and tub began leaking into the kitchen below we knew we had to start working on it. That meant tearing out the plaster and lath, the old (beautiful) tile underneath layers of linoleum and the builder grade fixtures. We re-created the tile pattern, added a subway tile shower where the closet used to be and re-finished an antique claw foot tub. The unusual sink was a craigslist find and the toilet came from our downstairs watercloset. The linen cabinet is a thrift store find - an old TV armoire with glass put in the doors and a coat or two of paint. Photos by Conan Y. Fugit

Bead board panels adds contrast & character to the framed doors. Photo: John Martinelli
Inspiration for a transitional porcelain tile kitchen remodel in Other with an undermount sink, solid surface countertops, stainless steel appliances and an island

Still completing the final construction...... A new extended deck and rear stair were designed to allow for easy outdoor flow from the home. The new addition continued the lower roof around the house to accommodate the new 1st floor 8 ft. wide kitchen addition. The new addition created stronger horizontal lines for the home and along with the new heavy timber detailing, it completely altered the character giving it a more substantial feeling that is reminiscent of the "Cascading" style. Removing, reconditioning, restaining and reinstalling the cedar siding as well as also re-detailing the windows with an accented wood trim also gives the house a simple but wonderful character.

Why have two patios instead of one? While it is possible to create a single large patio with space for a dining room table, fire pit, and the kitchen sink – separating spaces by use gives each area a stronger sense of place and character. In this two patio design, a dedicated patio surrounding the fire pit gives everyone a front row seat to enjoy the flames and views of the lake. The dining patio closer is located to the house makes it much more likely that it will actually get used.

This image shows the original design drawing. Our clients came to us with a request for an exterior entry wall tile installation that strongly evoked a sense of place. They requested a piece that included references to the historic Mission, showed the famous swallows and bells, and strongly reflected the historic character of the town. We toured the location for iconic images to capture. Hundreds of photographs of the town and the mission yielded at least one surprise: no two images of swallows looked the same! The skyline was dominated by the dome of the Mission and palm trees. We created 2 designs for our clients. In our first design, we offered them a very literal interpretation of their requirements: a very painterly tile scene of the Mission itself. But we weren’t satisfied that this was a sufficiently original concept. Our second concept took a more intensely graphic approach, focusing on the strongly geometric Mission window as the centerpiece of a more mathematical design. Around this center we placed bells, delineated only in relief rather than different colors, with the entire design framed by the geometric forms found in the wooden doors of the Mission itself, anchored by 4 flying swallows at each corner. We presented both designs to the clients and explained that while we thought both were both good executions of their concepts, we believed that the second design was much stronger, more original, and more impactful. Happily, they agreed. In fact, at the end of the installation process, as they watched, holding their wine glasses, they said, “this is so much better than we even imagined!”. Photo by Michael Linsley

photo: John Dwyer
Example of a minimalist exterior home design in Minneapolis

Chris Snook

The design of the living room started with the Cast Limestone Fireplace surround and we tiled the back wall of the fireplace with coordinating limestone tile for a stronger impact. The Custom Built-ins had wire mesh upper doors to cover the audio equipment. Accent tables were made of wrought iron , wood and glass for a more natural eclectic mix. Altogether, it was a very European relaxed look with character.

Kitchen - coastal light wood floor kitchen idea in London with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, white backsplash, paneled appliances, an island and white countertops

The design of the living room started with the Cast Limestone Fireplace surround and we tiled the back wall of the fireplace with coordinating limestone tile for a stronger impact. The Custom Built-ins had wire mesh upper doors to cover the audio equipment. Accent tables were made of wrought iron , wood and glass for a more natural eclectic mix. Altogether, it was a very European relaxed look with character.

An inviting colour palette and carefully zoned layout are key to this kitchen’s success. First, we decided to move the kitchen from a tiny room at the side of the property into a central area, previously used as a dining room, to create a space better suited to a family of five. We also extended the room to provide more space and to afford panoramic views of the garden. We wanted to develop “zoning” ideas to maximise the practicality of the room for family life and to experiment with a darker, richer palette of materials than the usual light and white, to create a welcoming, warm space. The layout is focussed around a large island, which does not include a sink or hob on its surface. This is the monolithic slab in the space, its simple design serving to amplify the beauty of the material it is made from; we chose an ultra-durable concrete-effect quartz to sweep across its top and down to the floor. The island links the other ‘components’ of the room: a distinct zone for washing up, opposite a cooking area, each fitted into niches created by structural pillars. Close to the dining table is a breakfast and drinks station, with boiling water tap, out of the way of the main working areas of the room. Working with interior designer Clare Pascoe of Pascoe Interiors, we selected clean-lined cabinetry in inky blue and dark wood, creating a rich effect offset by a smoked wood floor and natural oak and blue stools. The stronger colours add character and definition, and accentuate the role of the kitchen as the heart of the home.