For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

The kitchen peninsula, dining table and yellow sectional share one continuous living space. Lilac lower cabinets introduce colour alongside white uppers, veined quartz and warm wood flooring, showing how the wall openings improved sightlines and everyday connection across this bungalow. Cedarstone Renovations transformed this East York bungalow by opening awkward dividing walls to create a connected kitchen, dining and living area. Custom spray-finished cabinetry and coordinated storage bring personality and practical function to this Toronto home renovation. Explore custom kitchens, cabinetry and home renovations at www.cedarstonereno.com.

Magnolia, Texas has quickly become one of the most attractive areas in North Houston for buyers seeking space, privacy, and a quieter lifestyle. Once considered a long-distance commute from major employment centers, the area is now far more accessible thanks to major transportation improvements. With the expansion of State Highway 249 (Aggie Expressway) and continued development of the Grand Parkway (SH-99), commuting from Magnolia and nearby acreage communities has become significantly more convenient. While residents enjoy the benefits of a rural setting with large homesites, commuting to nearby job centers such as The Woodlands, Spring, and Houston requires some planning, especially during peak travel times.

Foxbar Residence is an interior renovation of a 1,500 sq ft home in Toronto, reconfiguring the existing layout to improve spatial flow, natural light, and overall functionality. The project focuses on creating a cohesive and efficient plan that supports contemporary family living within a compact footprint. A restrained material palette and carefully detailed interventions bring clarity and continuity to the interior, balancing openness with defined zones for daily use. Custom millwork and refined spatial adjustments enhance storage, circulation, and usability, resulting in a calm, functional home that feels both tailored and enduring.

Foxbar Residence is an interior renovation of a 1,500 sq ft home in Toronto, reconfiguring the existing layout to improve spatial flow, natural light, and overall functionality. The project focuses on creating a cohesive and efficient plan that supports contemporary family living within a compact footprint. A restrained material palette and carefully detailed interventions bring clarity and continuity to the interior, balancing openness with defined zones for daily use. Custom millwork and refined spatial adjustments enhance storage, circulation, and usability, resulting in a calm, functional home that feels both tailored and enduring.

Magnolia, Texas has quickly become one of the most attractive areas in North Houston for buyers seeking space, privacy, and a quieter lifestyle. Once considered a long-distance commute from major employment centers, the area is now far more accessible thanks to major transportation improvements. With the expansion of State Highway 249 (Aggie Expressway) and continued development of the Grand Parkway (SH-99), commuting from Magnolia and nearby acreage communities has become significantly more convenient. While residents enjoy the benefits of a rural setting with large homesites, commuting to nearby job centers such as The Woodlands, Spring, and Houston requires some planning, especially during peak travel times.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

Constructed in two phases, this renovation, with a few small additions, touched nearly every room in this late ‘50’s ranch house. The owners raised their family within the original walls and love the house’s location, which is not far from town and also borders conservation land. But they didn’t love how chopped up the house was and the lack of exposure to natural daylight and views of the lush rear woods. Plus, they were ready to de-clutter for a more stream-lined look. As a result, KHS collaborated with them to create a quiet, clean design to support the lifestyle they aspire to in retirement. To transform the original ranch house, KHS proposed several significant changes that would make way for a number of related improvements. Proposed changes included the removal of the attached enclosed breezeway (which had included a stair to the basement living space) and the two-car garage it partially wrapped, which had blocked vital eastern daylight from accessing the interior. Together the breezeway and garage had also contributed to a long, flush front façade. In its stead, KHS proposed a new two-car carport, attached storage shed, and exterior basement stair in a new location. The carport is bumped closer to the street to relieve the flush front facade and to allow access behind it to eastern daylight in a relocated rear kitchen. KHS also proposed a new, single, more prominent front entry, closer to the driveway to replace the former secondary entrance into the dark breezeway and a more formal main entrance that had been located much farther down the facade and curiously bordered the bedroom wing. Inside, low ceilings and soffits in the primary family common areas were removed to create a cathedral ceiling (with rod ties) over a reconfigured semi-open living, dining, and kitchen space. A new gas fireplace serving the relocated dining area -- defined by a new built-in banquette in a new bay window -- was designed to back up on the existing wood-burning fireplace that continues to serve the living area. A shared full bath, serving two guest bedrooms on the main level, was reconfigured, and additional square footage was captured for a reconfigured master bathroom off the existing master bedroom. A new whole-house color palette, including new finishes and new cabinetry, complete the transformation. Today, the owners enjoy a fresh and airy re-imagining of their familiar ranch house. Photos by Katie Hutchison

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

Magnolia, Texas has quickly become one of the most attractive areas in North Houston for buyers seeking space, privacy, and a quieter lifestyle. Once considered a long-distance commute from major employment centers, the area is now far more accessible thanks to major transportation improvements. With the expansion of State Highway 249 (Aggie Expressway) and continued development of the Grand Parkway (SH-99), commuting from Magnolia and nearby acreage communities has become significantly more convenient. While residents enjoy the benefits of a rural setting with large homesites, commuting to nearby job centers such as The Woodlands, Spring, and Houston requires some planning, especially during peak travel times.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

Photo by Jody Dole This charming farmhouse sits atop a grassy hill overlooking a serene Connecticut River Estuary. The new design reformulated the first floor plan making it much more functional and visually exciting. It encompassed the reorganization of multiple spaces including the Mudroom, Kitchen, Dining Room, Family Room, Sun Room, Laundry, Bathroom, and Master Closet. The design also added, deleted, and relocated windows and French doors to greatly enhance exterior views, draw in more natural light, and seamlessly upgrade the articulation of exterior elevations. Improvements to the plumbing and mechanical systems were also made. The overall feeling is both sophisticated and yet very much down to earth. John R. Schroeder, AIA is a professional design firm specializing in architecture, interiors, and planning. We have over 30 years experience with projects of all types, sizes, and levels of complexity. Because we love what we do, we approach our work with enthusiasm and dedication. We are committed to the highest level of design and service on each and every project. We engage our clients in positive and rewarding collaborations. We strive to exceed expectations through our attention to detail, our understanding of the “big picture”, and our ability to effectively manage a team of design professionals, industry representatives, and building contractors. We carefully analyze budgets and project objectives to assist clients with wise fund allocation. We continually monitor and research advances in technology, materials, and construction methods, both sustainable and otherwise, to provide a responsible, well-suited, and cost effective product. Our design solutions are highly functional using both innovative and traditional approaches. Our aesthetic style is flexible and open, blending cues from client desires, building function, site context, and material properties, making each project unique, personalized, and enduring.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.

For this recently moved in military family, their old rambler home offered plenty of area for potential improvement. An entire new kitchen space was designed to create a greater feeling of family warmth. It all started with gutting the old rundown kitchen. The kitchen space was cramped and disconnected from the rest of the main level. There was a large bearing wall separating the living room from the kitchen and the dining room. A structure recessed beam was inserted into the attic space that enabled opening up of the entire main level. A large L-shaped island took over the wall placement giving a big work and storage space for the kitchen. Installed wood flooring matched up with the remaining living space created a continuous seam-less main level. By eliminating a side door and cutting through brick and block back wall, a large picture window was inserted to allow plenty of natural light into the kitchen. Recessed and pendent lights also improved interior lighting. By using offset cabinetry and a carefully selected granite slab to complement each other, a more soothing space was obtained to inspire cooking and entertaining. The fabulous new kitchen was completed with a new French door leading to the sun room. This family is now very happy with the massive transformation, and are happy to join their new community.