Kitchen - contemporary kitchen idea in Portland

These wonderful clients returned to us for their newest home remodel adventure. Their newly purchased custom built 1970s modern ranch sits in one of the loveliest neighborhoods south of the city but the current conditions of the home were out-dated and not so lovely. Upon entering the front door through the court you were greeted abruptly by a very boring staircase and an excessive number of doors. Just to the left of the double door entry was a large slider and on your right once inside the home was a soldier line up of doors. This made for an uneasy and uninviting entry that guests would quickly forget and our clients would often avoid. We also had our hands full in the kitchen. The existing space included many elements that felt out of place in a modern ranch including a rustic mountain scene backsplash, cherry cabinets with raised panel and detailed profile, and an island so massive you couldn’t pass a drink across the stone. Our design sought to address the functional pain points of the home and transform the overall aesthetic into something that felt like home for our clients. For the entry, we re-worked the front door configuration by switching from the double door to a large single door with side lights. The sliding door next to the main entry door was replaced with a large window to eliminate entry door confusion. In our re-work of the entry staircase, guesta are now greeted into the foyer which features the Coral Pendant by David Trubridge. Guests are drawn into the home by stunning views of the front range via the large floor-to-ceiling glass wall in the living room. To the left, the staircases leading down to the basement and up to the master bedroom received a massive aesthetic upgrade. The rebuilt 2nd-floor staircase has a center spine with wood rise and run appearing to float upwards towards the master suite. A slatted wall of wood separates the two staircases which brings more light into the basement stairwell. Black metal railings add a stunning contrast to the light wood. Other fabulous upgrades to this home included new wide plank flooring throughout the home, which offers both modernity and warmth. The once too-large kitchen island was downsized to create a functional focal point that is still accessible and intimate. The old dark and heavy kitchen cabinetry was replaced with sleek white cabinets, brightening up the space and elevating the aesthetic of the entire room. The kitchen countertops are marble look quartz with dramatic veining that offers an artistic feature behind the range and across all horizontal surfaces in the kitchen. As a final touch, cascading island pendants were installed which emphasize the gorgeous ceiling vault and provide warm feature lighting over the central point of the kitchen. This transformation reintroduces light and simplicity to this gorgeous home, and we are so happy that our clients can reap the benefits of this elegant and functional design for years to come.

Trendy pool photo in Orange County

A mix of contemporary, modern, and mid century design. Natural wood finishes with simple countertop surfaces and stainless steel appliances. Light, open, and clean feel. Elmwood frameless cabinetry. All wood construction cabinets in Walnut with a natural finish. The countertop on the perimeter is Dekton in Zenith with a honed finish. The island is Neolith in Estatuario Silk. Both countertops have a mitered edge finish. The rangetop is a Wolf 48" gas range. The dishwasher is by bosch and this kitchen has two of them. The refrigerator and freezer are Subzero 36" built-in units placed next to each other to make one big component. The hood is by Best and is a 48" Island Hood called Gorgona. The microwave is a microwave drawer by Wolf and is 24". The double oven and the warming drawer are lined up vertically and all 30" by Wolf. The wine refrigerator is an under counter 24" by Subzero. The main sink is Oliveri 33" x 21" single bowl apron sink. There is an instant hot and an instant cold faucet, both by WaterINC. The island sink is by Franke and in the Peak Series. The island sink faucet is by KWC and is a single pull down faucet. The pendant lights over the island are by Niche and are the Modern Stamen Pendants in Smoke. The backsplash is 12" x 12" Koshi tile, with a blend between light grey and white. The wall and ceiling paint colors are by Benjamin Moore and are Chantilly Lace. The trim paint color is Swiss Coffee by Kelly Moore. All of the cabinet hardware is by Atlas Homewares. The flooring throughout the great room is by Boen and is a Oak Traditional in Chaletino.

www.carolinabluewaterconstruction.com
Inspiration for a coastal exterior home remodel in Wilmington

This farmhouse, with it's original foundation dating back to 1778, had a lot of charm--but with its bad carpeting, dark paint colors, and confusing layout, it was hard to see at first just how welcoming, charming, and cozy it could be. The first focus of our renovation was creating a master bedroom suite--since there wasn't one, and one was needed for the modern family that was living here day-in and day-out. To do this, a collection of small rooms (some of them previously without heat or electrical outlets) were combined to create a gorgeous, serene space in the eaves of the oldest part of the house, complete with master bath containing a double vanity, and spacious shower. Even though these rooms are new, it is hard to see that they weren't original to the farmhouse from day one. In the rest of the house we removed walls that were added in the 1970's that made spaces seem smaller and more choppy, added a second upstairs bathroom for the family's two children, reconfigured the kitchen using existing cabinets to cut costs ( & making sure to keep the old sink with all of its character & charm) and create a more workable layout with dedicated eating area. Also added was an outdoor living space with a deck sheltered by a pergola--a spot that the family spends tons of time enjoying during the warmer months. A family room addition had been added to the house by the previous owner in the 80's, so to make this space feel less like it was tacked on, we installed historically accurate new windows to tie it in visually with the original house, and replaced carpeting with hardwood floors to make a more seamless transition from the historic to the new. To complete the project, we refinished the original hardwoods throughout the rest of the house, and brightened the outlook of the whole home with a fresh, bright, updated color scheme. Photos by Laura Kicey

Home had stone fireplace and mantle that matched the exterior stone of the home (Austin Limestone) along with a raised hearth. Dark, narrow plank hardwood flooring was removed as was the second double door in the great room. It was replaced by a large operable window to match window in the breakfast area. Although the space was already light and airy so many doors created confusion as to which door to use to exit. Additional can lighting was added and all lighting was changed out for LED Fourwalls Photography

The Great Room located adjacent to the Kitchen is a welcome gathering area. A wet bar located in the adjacent hall is convenient to the Great Room and nearby Dining Room. The custom mouldings applied to the ceiling add visual interest without lowering the ceiling height. Photo by Kelly J. Mihalcoe

Kitchen photo in Other with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, wood countertops and stainless steel appliances

Challenges can be blessing in disguise. A very narrow space can be transformed by creating a focal point and building around that strength. Rearranging this floor plan and creating a conversational space with the correct size furniture and purpose transformed this confusing space into a show stopper. Multiple mirrors created a dramatic focal point to the fireplace as well as spread light into a tall room with little lighting. Neutral walls and warm pops of color updated this space into a transitionally styled family living space.

by Tile Doctor
Mid-sized trendy tile staircase photo in Chicago with tile risers

Architect: Sarah Susanka, FAIA, while at Mulfinger, Susanka, Mahady & Partners; Photo by Ken Gutmaker
Closet - closet idea in Raleigh

This top-to-bottom renovation in Ramona, California, transformed a once heavy and confused interior into a serene retreat. Our design introduced a warm, inviting atmosphere with a stunning mix of medium and dark wood tones, paired with contrasting textural stone elements and bold black accents. The result is a space that feels balanced, abundant, and deeply connected to nature. Designed for a spiritual client seeking harmony, this home now embodies tranquility and comfort. Every element, from the rich wood tones to the organic textures, works together to create a space that supports mindfulness and relaxation. The careful blend of materials creates a sanctuary-like environment, making it the perfect retreat from the everyday hustle. This transformation highlights our expertise in creating personalized spaces that bring balance and warmth, aligning with our client's lifestyle and values.

I did not have to do much to this space! We threw a rug under the table and a plant on top of it to make it feel cozier. I loved how this client mixed styles in her table and chairs. It was a great example of style mixing. It can be oh-so-confusing trying to mix styles but there is actually some rhyme and reason to it. Think of it like ying and yang. Just as all great couples carry opposite personalities, so should your chairs and table. The table here is country with it's rounded shape and detailed edges. It's inviting and sturdy. So we look for the opposite - chairs that are more modern, spunky, and clean-lined.

Example of a classic basement design in Chicago

This exceptional piece is as functional as it is aesthetic. The illuminated wine display stores up to 354 bottles of wine and features a dual-zone cooling system providing optimal storage conditions for both red and white wines. A distressed two-stage finish and special trim, were custom manufactured to match the existing woodwork, providing a seamless fit into the room’s architecture.

This was a rather dirty Terracotta kitchen floor located at a house in Winchmore Hill in Buckinghamshire, not to be confused with the Winchmore Hill in London. The sealer on the tiles had worn off some time ago and now the dirt was becoming trapped in the pores of the Terracotta making it impossible to clean. Deep Cleaning Terracotta Tile To deep clean into the pores of the Terracotta a diluted solution of Tile Doctor Pro Clean, which is a strong tile cleaner sage to use on tiled floors, was applied to kitchen floor and left to soak in for around ten minutes. Then with the aid of a commercial rotary machine the solution was scrubbed into the tiles to release the many years of accumulated ingrained soiling which was removed from the floor using a wet vacuum. Although this deep cleaned the tile the grout lines needed further attention and were treated with Tile Doctor Grout Clean-up solution and then washed down with fresh water which was removed with a wet vacuum. There was still evidence of sealer remaining on the floor in some areas so the next step in the process was to apply Tile Doctor Remove and Go again working it into the tile using a scrubbing pad fitted to a rotary machine. Remove and Go as its name suggests is used to remove waxes and sealants from tile and stone. It certainly did the job and once the resultant slurry was vacuumed up and the floor given a final rinse to remove any chemicals used in the process the floor was looking much cleaner and left to dry overnight ready for our return Sealing Terracotta Tile The next day came back to do the sealing and checked the floor first for any spots we might had missed and also to ensure it had dried sufficiently. Tile Doctor Seal and Go was then applied in coats to fully seal the floor. As well as adding protection Seal and Go adds a nice subtle satin finish to Terracotta and being water based it doesn’t give off an odour when it’s drying.

Transform your family room effortlessly depending on whether you want to relax, play games, read, or watch TV together. Unclutter the coffee table and reduce confusion with the simplicity of a single remote the entire family can use to control everything: TV, music, streaming content, DVD player, lights, shades and temperature. Home entertainment equipment can be concealed so you only see and hear it when you want to and your family room keeps the sense of style you desire.

Whether choosing to purchase, commission, or lease & rotate your art collection, we provide concept-driven and budget-appropriate options to realize your vision. The art market can be overwhelming, time-consuming, and confusing but after almost a decade in the contemporary art world, and a deep passion, we will source, present, negotiate and facilitate each step of this exciting process. Regardless of whether you are searching for a specific piece of art to accent your home or curating an art collection allow us to offer suggestions to bring your space to life!