Search results for "Continuous improvement" in Home Design Ideas

This Redmond kitchen renovation focused on elevating the space while preserving the original layout and structural framework. The design approach emphasizes visual clarity, balanced proportions, and long-term functionality, creating a modern yet timeless environment.
Custom cabinetry was integrated along the perimeter, with carefully aligned door proportions and clean lines that establish a cohesive architectural presence. The light-toned countertops and continuous backsplash enhance the sense of openness while maintaining a refined, unified material palette.
Layered lighting, including concealed LED strips, provides both functional illumination and subtle ambient depth, highlighting surfaces without overwhelming the space. The central island serves as the functional and visual anchor of the kitchen, improving workflow while naturally connecting to the surrounding living areas.
All phases of the project — from design and material selection to installation — were completed by our in-house team, ensuring precision, consistency, and full quality control without outsourcing.

This project showcases a full interior renovation with a modern transitional approach, seamlessly connecting the kitchen, living room, and common areas through a neutral palette, high‑quality finishes, and an open layout. The kitchen features custom white cabinetry, a marble‑style waterfall island, and a geometric black‑and‑white backsplash that adds depth and visual interest. Crystal pendant lighting above the island introduces a refined focal point and enhances the overall elegance of the space.
The living room was updated with a fireplace feature wall that serves as the architectural centerpiece, complemented by built‑in shelving that balances functionality and design. Hardwood flooring installed throughout the home creates visual continuity, warmth, and smooth transitions between spaces. Strategic wall modifications opened the layout, improved flow, and maximized natural light, resulting in a cohesive, sophisticated, and beautifully integrated interior.

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.
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940sf interior and exterior remodel of the rear unit of a duplex. By reorganizing on-site parking and re-positioning openings a greater sense of privacy was created for both units. In addition it provided a new entryway for the rear unit. A modified first floor layout improves natural daylight and connections to new outdoor patios.
(c) Eric Staudenmaier

This project transformed a narrow and outdated bathroom into a bright, functional, and contemporary space. The design focused on improving spatial clarity, enhancing natural light, and creating visual continuity through a restrained material palette.
Light-toned wall tiles were used to visually expand the space, while a frameless glass shower enclosure preserves openness and allows light to flow throughout the room. Carefully selected fixtures and clean geometric forms reinforce a calm and timeless aesthetic.
The result is a bathroom that feels more spacious, coherent, and architecturally refined within the existing footprint.
Location: Oaxaca, Mexico

What a huge transformation! The accent colored cabinets definitely provided this kitchen with a one-of-a-kind feel. The room feels like one continuous space with the wall gone, and the upgraded lighting made a dramatic difference. Our client chose to tile the back wall and install floating shelving instead of upper cabinets, which looked great with the concept. Since the soffits had to stay, we framed them around the wall mount range hood to give depth. And to top it off, we installed a fabulous farm sink that not only looked great, but was highly functional for their lifestyle. The new concept serves our client’s needs perfectly, and we were honored that we were able to deliver the kitchen of their dreams!

While working with this couple on their master bathroom, they asked us to renovate their kitchen which was still in the 70’s and needed a complete demo and upgrade utilizing new modern design and innovative technology and elements. We transformed an indoor grill area with curved design on top to a buffet/serving station with an angled top to mimic the angle of the ceiling. Skylights were incorporated for natural light and the red brick fireplace was changed to split face stacked travertine which continued over the buffet for a dramatic aesthetic. The dated island, cabinetry and appliances were replaced with bark-stained Hickory cabinets, a larger island and state of the art appliances. The sink and faucet were chosen from a source in Chicago and add a contemporary flare to the island. An additional buffet area was added for a tv, bookshelves and additional storage. The pendant light over the kitchen table took some time to find exactly what they were looking for, but we found a light that was minimalist and contemporary to ensure an unobstructed view of their beautiful backyard. The result is a stunning kitchen with improved function, storage, and the WOW they were going for.

Sponsored
Delaware County, OH
Whisler Home Improvement
Franklin County's Committed Home Improvement Professionals

Open Space Living Room Layout
Inspiration for a country living room remodel in Los Angeles
Inspiration for a country living room remodel in Los Angeles

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Permeable
Contractor: Sequoia Stonescapes
Producer: Williamette Graystone
Designer: Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping
Eco-Panorama Demi pavers, in a tri-color blend, perfectly complement this home’s exterior. Contrasting color paver bands artfully define the driveway and courtyard. The use of the same pavers in the walkway and courtyard created design continuity and flow. Paver color and texture enhance and seamlessly integrate with an adjacent natural stone retaining wall.
Expert workmanship is showcased via smooth pavement elevation transitions and precise paver trim cuts. This quality Eco-Panorama Demi paver install ensured the homeowner’s stormwater drainage issues were addressed in a manner that enhanced the beauty of their home.
The existing storm drain inlets were retained and work in conjunction with installed Eco-Panorama Demi permeable pavers. The pavers also achieve visual harmonization with the adjacent natural stone wall, which was a project requirement.
This home is positioned at the lower end of a 200ft long drive that drops sixteen feet in elevation from the street entrance. Impervious concrete was replaced with PICP to manage 80,700 gallons of rainwater the pavement receives annually. The PICP improvement eliminated concerns over flooding in the home and garage. The 3500 SF pavement includes a courtyard and vehicle turnaround.
Despite thirty-seven inches of annual rainfall, these homeowners will rest assured their property is protected from rainwater runoff. Keystone Hardscapes’ Eco-Panorama permeable pavers provide improved stormwater management and elevated property value. Stormwater controls critical to the project were achieved and aesthetic beauty was significantly enhanced.

Planning a Modern Kitchen Remodel
Every successful kitchen remodeling project begins with careful planning. Before construction starts, it is important to evaluate the existing layout, cabinet storage, lighting conditions, appliance placement, and how the kitchen connects to surrounding living spaces.
For this project, the primary design goals included:
Creating a brighter open concept kitchen
Improving functionality and circulation
Increasing pantry and cabinet storage
Maximizing natural light with skylight integration
Creating a clean and timeless design aesthetic
The final layout centered around a large kitchen island that functions as both a workspace and gathering area. Open concept kitchens remain highly desirable because they improve communication between living areas while helping the home feel larger and more connected.
Importance of Natural Light
Natural lighting plays a major role in modern kitchen remodeling. In this renovation, the skylight significantly improved brightness throughout the space and helped create a softer, more inviting atmosphere during the day.
Combined with recessed lighting and pendant fixtures above the island, the layered lighting design provides both functional task lighting and balanced ambient illumination.
Construction and Material Selection
Kitchen remodeling projects require coordination between multiple construction trades including demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, countertops, and finish carpentry.
Bi-Color Kitchen Remodel Design
One of the standout features of this project is the bi-color kitchen remodel design. The warm natural wood island creates contrast against the surrounding white cabinetry while maintaining a clean and balanced appearance.
This approach helps:
Add visual depth to the kitchen
Create separation between functional zones
Prevent the space from feeling overly monochromatic
Introduce warmth into modern kitchen designs
The oversized island also provides additional storage, countertop workspace, and seating opportunities for everyday use and entertaining.
Countertops, Cabinetry, and Finishes
The kitchen includes:
Quartz countertops with waterfall-style edges
Custom shaker-style cabinetry
Stainless steel appliances
Modern pendant lighting
Wide plank engineered hardwood flooring
Full-height backsplash surfaces
The neutral color palette was selected to create a timeless appearance while allowing flexibility for future décor and furniture changes.
Pantry Kitchen Renovation
Storage planning is one of the most important aspects of kitchen remodeling. The pantry kitchen renovation focused on improving organization and accessibility while maximizing usable storage space.
Modern pantry systems help homeowners:
Reduce countertop clutter
Improve kitchen organization
Store small appliances more efficiently
Increase long-term functionality
Thoughtful storage design can significantly improve the daily usability of a kitchen without increasing square footage.
Real Estate Value and Long-Term Benefits
Kitchen remodeling remains one of the highest-value residential renovation projects in the Bay Area real estate market. A professionally designed open concept kitchen can improve buyer perception, increase property appeal, and modernize outdated layouts.
Features such as large islands, skylights, pantry storage, and bi-color cabinetry continue to remain highly desirable among homeowners and future buyers alike.
Common Kitchen Remodeling Mistakes
Some common mistakes homeowners should avoid include:
Insufficient lighting design
Poor circulation planning
Limited storage solutions
Choosing low-durability materials
Overcrowded layouts
Inadequate electrical preparation
Working with experienced remodeling professionals can help avoid costly design and construction issues later in the process.
Common Questions
How long does a kitchen remodel usually take?
Most kitchen remodeling projects take approximately 6–12 weeks depending on the project scope, inspections, material lead times, and structural modifications.
Do kitchen remodels require permits?
Permits are often required when plumbing, electrical, structural, or layout changes are involved. Requirements vary depending on the city and scope of work.
What is a bi-color kitchen remodel?
A bi-color kitchen remodel uses two cabinet finishes or tones to create visual contrast and a more customized design appearance.
Does an open concept kitchen increase home value?
Open concept kitchens are highly desirable because they improve functionality, natural lighting, and overall flow throughout the home.
Conclusion
A well-planned kitchen remodeling project combines thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship, and durable materials to create a space that is both functional and visually appealing. Features such as skylight integration, open concept layouts, pantry kitchen renovations, and bi-color cabinetry continue to remain popular among Bay Area homeowners seeking timeless and practical kitchen designs.
Careful planning, professional coordination, and attention to detail are essential for creating a kitchen that performs well aesthetically and functionally for many years.
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If you’re planning a kitchen remodeling project, consulting with an experienced contractor can help simplify the design and construction process while avoiding costly mistakes.
Book a consultation:
calendly.com/lemonremodeling

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Permeable
Contractor: Sequoia Stonescapes
Producer: Williamette Graystone
Designer: Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping
Eco-Panorama Demi pavers, in a tri-color blend, perfectly complement this home’s exterior. Contrasting color paver bands artfully define the driveway and courtyard. The use of the same pavers in the walkway and courtyard created design continuity and flow. Paver color and texture enhance and seamlessly integrate with an adjacent natural stone retaining wall.
Expert workmanship is showcased via smooth pavement elevation transitions and precise paver trim cuts. This quality Eco-Panorama Demi paver install ensured the homeowner’s stormwater drainage issues were addressed in a manner that enhanced the beauty of their home.
The existing storm drain inlets were retained and work in conjunction with installed Eco-Panorama Demi permeable pavers. The pavers also achieve visual harmonization with the adjacent natural stone wall, which was a project requirement.
This home is positioned at the lower end of a 200ft long drive that drops sixteen feet in elevation from the street entrance. Impervious concrete was replaced with PICP to manage 80,700 gallons of rainwater the pavement receives annually. The PICP improvement eliminated concerns over flooding in the home and garage. The 3500 SF pavement includes a courtyard and vehicle turnaround.
Despite thirty-seven inches of annual rainfall, these homeowners will rest assured their property is protected from rainwater runoff. Keystone Hardscapes’ Eco-Panorama permeable pavers provide improved stormwater management and elevated property value. Stormwater controls critical to the project were achieved and aesthetic beauty was significantly enhanced.

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Permeable
Contractor: Sequoia Stonescapes
Producer: Williamette Graystone
Designer: Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping
Eco-Panorama Demi pavers, in a tri-color blend, perfectly complement this home’s exterior. Contrasting color paver bands artfully define the driveway and courtyard. The use of the same pavers in the walkway and courtyard created design continuity and flow. Paver color and texture enhance and seamlessly integrate with an adjacent natural stone retaining wall.
Expert workmanship is showcased via smooth pavement elevation transitions and precise paver trim cuts. This quality Eco-Panorama Demi paver install ensured the homeowner’s stormwater drainage issues were addressed in a manner that enhanced the beauty of their home.
The existing storm drain inlets were retained and work in conjunction with installed Eco-Panorama Demi permeable pavers. The pavers also achieve visual harmonization with the adjacent natural stone wall, which was a project requirement.
This home is positioned at the lower end of a 200ft long drive that drops sixteen feet in elevation from the street entrance. Impervious concrete was replaced with PICP to manage 80,700 gallons of rainwater the pavement receives annually. The PICP improvement eliminated concerns over flooding in the home and garage. The 3500 SF pavement includes a courtyard and vehicle turnaround.
Despite thirty-seven inches of annual rainfall, these homeowners will rest assured their property is protected from rainwater runoff. Keystone Hardscapes’ Eco-Panorama permeable pavers provide improved stormwater management and elevated property value. Stormwater controls critical to the project were achieved and aesthetic beauty was significantly enhanced.

An existing 70’s brick home nestled streets away from the beach, is in dire need of a transformation. The existing home had the bones to accommodate a substantial renovation, some modifications to the layout, adding an extension and exaggerating the existing raked ceilings in the main living area impacts the new home.
The home itself is a relatively disjointed 70’s home, so cleaver planning was imperative to make the most of the interior space. Large open plan living areas with adjoining outdoor entertaining was important. The owners are a young family who enjoy family and entertaining so interaction with the outdoor alfresco was essential not only for quality of living but to appear as a continuation of the main living area to increase the zone visually.
My client’s fresh approach; introduction of modern materials with a hint of Scandinavian and industrial, an improved working area and a functional space for cooking and preparing meals.

Expanding and updating the kitchen was our top priority – the new layout was designed to straddle the original house and the addition, creating work zones rather than the traditional work triangle. The modified galley layout more than doubled their countertop area and storage space. Extending the kitchen into the addition took full advantage of the vaulted ceilings and light-filled space. To improve flow and connectivity, we opened up a wall between the old kitchen and the front entry hall providing a straight path from front door to the new mudroom/drop zone and kitchen beyond. A door from the dining room into the kitchen was shifted to allow for a more generous kitchen.
The beautifully veined Calacatta Eiffel quartz counters and backsplash provide visual contrast with the black cabinetry and keep the space from feeling too heavy. A continuous ledge and floating shelves replace traditional uppers for a more open and modern feel. Stained wood is used throughout, from the bench top, to shelving, trim and custom millwork; it brings in a natural element and helps unite all of the spaces. A hood with a custom Venetian plaster finish is flanked by vintage inspired sconces and provides a stunning focal point in the room. A deep nook is home to a ‘bubble box’ that dispenses cold sparkling or still water on demand – the marble tile backsplash further differentiates this beverage zone. The brushed brass hardware stands out against the dark cabinets and adds a touch of warmth. With seating for three at the counter and the inclusion of a breakfast area banquette (with drawers), the home is ideal for family time and relaxed gatherings with friends.

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Permeable
Contractor: Sequoia Stonescapes
Producer: Williamette Graystone
Designer: Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping
Eco-Panorama Demi pavers, in a tri-color blend, perfectly complement this home’s exterior. Contrasting color paver bands artfully define the driveway and courtyard. The use of the same pavers in the walkway and courtyard created design continuity and flow. Paver color and texture enhance and seamlessly integrate with an adjacent natural stone retaining wall.
Expert workmanship is showcased via smooth pavement elevation transitions and precise paver trim cuts. This quality Eco-Panorama Demi paver install ensured the homeowner’s stormwater drainage issues were addressed in a manner that enhanced the beauty of their home.
The existing storm drain inlets were retained and work in conjunction with installed Eco-Panorama Demi permeable pavers. The pavers also achieve visual harmonization with the adjacent natural stone wall, which was a project requirement.
This home is positioned at the lower end of a 200ft long drive that drops sixteen feet in elevation from the street entrance. Impervious concrete was replaced with PICP to manage 80,700 gallons of rainwater the pavement receives annually. The PICP improvement eliminated concerns over flooding in the home and garage. The 3500 SF pavement includes a courtyard and vehicle turnaround.
Despite thirty-seven inches of annual rainfall, these homeowners will rest assured their property is protected from rainwater runoff. Keystone Hardscapes’ Eco-Panorama permeable pavers provide improved stormwater management and elevated property value. Stormwater controls critical to the project were achieved and aesthetic beauty was significantly enhanced.

2018 HNA Awards Honorable Mention - Concrete Paver - Permeable
Contractor: Sequoia Stonescapes
Producer: Williamette Graystone
Designer: Drake's 7 Dees Landscaping
Eco-Panorama Demi pavers, in a tri-color blend, perfectly complement this home’s exterior. Contrasting color paver bands artfully define the driveway and courtyard. The use of the same pavers in the walkway and courtyard created design continuity and flow. Paver color and texture enhance and seamlessly integrate with an adjacent natural stone retaining wall.
Expert workmanship is showcased via smooth pavement elevation transitions and precise paver trim cuts. This quality Eco-Panorama Demi paver install ensured the homeowner’s stormwater drainage issues were addressed in a manner that enhanced the beauty of their home.
The existing storm drain inlets were retained and work in conjunction with installed Eco-Panorama Demi permeable pavers. The pavers also achieve visual harmonization with the adjacent natural stone wall, which was a project requirement.
This home is positioned at the lower end of a 200ft long drive that drops sixteen feet in elevation from the street entrance. Impervious concrete was replaced with PICP to manage 80,700 gallons of rainwater the pavement receives annually. The PICP improvement eliminated concerns over flooding in the home and garage. The 3500 SF pavement includes a courtyard and vehicle turnaround.
Despite thirty-seven inches of annual rainfall, these homeowners will rest assured their property is protected from rainwater runoff. Keystone Hardscapes’ Eco-Panorama permeable pavers provide improved stormwater management and elevated property value. Stormwater controls critical to the project were achieved and aesthetic beauty was significantly enhanced.

This uniquely designed home in Seattle, Washington recently underwent a dramatic transformation that provides both a fresh new aesthetic and improved functionality. Renovations on this home went above and beyond the typical “face-lift” of the home remodel project and created a modern, one-of-a-kind space perfectly designed to accommodate the growing family of the homeowners.
Along with creating a new aesthetic for the home, constructing a dwelling that was both energy efficient and ensured a high level of comfort were major goals of the project. To this end, the homeowners selected A5h Windows and Doors with triple-pane glazing which offers argon-filled, low-E coated glass and warm edge spacers within an all-aluminum frame. The hidden sash option was selected to provide a clean and modern aesthetic on the exterior facade. Concealed hinges allow for a continuous air seal, while premium stainless-steel handles offer a refined contemporary touch.

Gable style patio cover that matches the existing roof line of the house. Built with multiple skylights, a ceiling fan and multiple can lights. This cover is built on an existing cedar deck with matching benches.

This project is a great example of how the addition of a well-designed and considered balustrade can vastly improve an existing staircase and landing, without the need to replace or damage any of the already in-situ finishes.
The clients already had a firm idea of the aesthetic they wanted and engaged us to come up with a method to achieve it without creating any disruption to an already finished and painted staircase.
After a detailed survey and studying the structural plans of the building, we were able to fully manufacture and powder-coat everything off-site, and simply bolt on to the existing staircase and landing structure in a single visit. This managed to leave no damage or disruption to the property, meaning no remedial work for our clients after we had finished.
The balustrade itself was manufactured from a mild steel flat bar and welded to a steel channel, which we bolted to the staircase, and a steel angle bracket, which we fixed to the landing. It was all tied together with a continuous thin round steel bar that was drilled through the top of each upright for rigidity, as well as a flat steel handrail to match the uprights. It was then powder-coated matte white to help it blend in with the walls and ceilings.
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