When I was initially contacted by the homeowners, it was for paint color selection, space planning and placement of artwork and accessories. We began by lightening up the Main Level because natural light was an issue. The Living Room is where the couple spends most of their time in the winter so we needed to make sure this space functioned well for them. They had previously purchased a conversation sofa and chairs and an ottoman. We moved the television which opened up the fireplace for flanking the chairs and ottoman. Conversation sofas are interesting, but you have to have the right spot because they do not work well floating in a space. We nestled theirs in the L-shaped corner. The homeowners did purchase an upholstered ottoman and rug through us to help finish off the space. Abby and I loved working with their art collection – most from local artisans.

Open circulation from family room to dining through a wide cased opening. Hosts can keep an eye on kids and conversation while plates move from kitchen to table without bottlenecks.

Living room - traditional formal dark wood floor living room idea in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a media wall

Garage and patio remodeling, turning a 2 car garage and a driveway into an amazing retreat in Los Angeles
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary detached two-car garage workshop remodel in Los Angeles

Example of a transitional formal light wood floor living room design with white walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

We recently completed a project in Bend, OR, for a client’s man cave, which he affectionately calls his motorcycle café. We used one of our modular cabinetry designs to accommodate his changing needs, making it the perfect solution as he navigated a recent life change. Additionally, if he decides to move, he can take the cabinetry with him to use in his new space, making this solution very versatile and cost-effective over the long term.

When I was initially contacted by the homeowners, it was for paint color selection, space planning and placement of artwork and accessories. We began by lightening up the Main Level because natural light was an issue. The Living Room is where the couple spends most of their time in the winter so we needed to make sure this space functioned well for them. They had previously purchased a conversation sofa and chairs and an ottoman. We moved the television which opened up the fireplace for flanking the chairs and ottoman. Conversation sofas are interesting, but you have to have the right spot because they do not work well floating in a space. We nestled theirs in the L-shaped corner. The homeowners did purchase an upholstered ottoman and rug through us to help finish off the space. Abby and I loved working with their art collection – most from local artisans.

Pinnacle Mountain Homes
Family room - rustic family room idea in Denver with a standard fireplace and a concealed tv

Rob Harris
Inspiration for a transitional enclosed dark wood floor family room remodel in Orlando with gray walls and no fireplace

Our goal was to create a sophisticated yet comfortable Family Room that is open to the kitchen and a main gathering place for family & friends. We created a serving bar with cabinets for storage and lined the back of the book shelves with wallpaper to lighten them up and provide the perfect back drop for accessories. The walls and ceiling were painted gray and enhance the gray and yellow color scheme. The armoire was made by the client's grandfather and is a prized possession that was moved from another room. The upholstered pieces of furniture were custom made using tapes, contrast welt and nail heads. Storage for blankets and pillows is available in the faux leather top coffee table/ottoman. A gray and yellow wool and silk area rug add color to the floor and grounds the furniture.

Transitional family room photo in San Francisco

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away. When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors. Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors. Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage. Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way. We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area. And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them. Credits: Custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry Contracting by Michael Pezzato of Lost Coast Construction Stone counters by Pyramid M.T.M.

Set in Montana's tranquil Shields River Valley, the Shilo Ranch Compound is a collection of structures that were specifically built on a relatively smaller scale, to maximize efficiency. The main house has two bedrooms, a living area, dining and kitchen, bath and adjacent greenhouse, while two guest homes within the compound can sleep a total of 12 friends and family. There's also a common gathering hall, for dinners, games, and time together. The overall feel here is of sophisticated simplicity, with plaster walls, concrete and wood floors, and weathered boards for exteriors. The placement of each building was considered closely when envisioning how people would move through the property, based on anticipated needs and interests. Sustainability and consumption was also taken into consideration, as evidenced by the photovoltaic panels on roof of the garage, and the capability to shut down any of the compound's buildings when not in use.

Inspiration for a contemporary home design remodel in Los Angeles

Entertainment room with ping pong table.
Inspiration for a huge coastal open concept light wood floor, brown floor, vaulted ceiling and wallpaper game room remodel in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stacked stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

This magnificent mountain home had 8 foot ceilings and a tiny kitchen with incredible long range views when we looked at it the first time. The clients first question to me was, what would you do if you could. When I said," the first thing I would do is move the kitchen to the sitting room and raise the ceiling" they asked the contractor," can you do that" Brian Sineath with Sineath Construction of Weaverville North Carolina after evaluating the roof line said, " I think we can" and this picture is the result of that conversation. WWW.bsineath@sineathconstruction.com, Thanks to Heather Allen at Acanthus Interiors of Asheville N.C.. www.heather.acanthusinteriors@yahoo.com,

Inspiration for a large 1950s formal and open concept light wood floor and beige floor living room remodel in Los Angeles with blue walls and a wall-mounted tv

A unique take on a modern Floridian style kitchen with a punch of color. The handmade green glass tiles by Trend Group were the driving force in this remodel. We were required to keep the sink and dishwasher in their original location. But we moved the stove from the left of the refrigerator, to the newly expanded island creating an oversized workspace. The clients love to socialize and by moving the stove, allowed for conversations to not be strained when someone is cooking. Our clients originally only fit 2 bar stools at the island. But once we doubled it in size, we were able to fit 4 bar stools and centralize the conversation area in this open concept design. The Cambria Annicca countertop is the piece de resistance adding a lot of flare o the space with its purple and gold detailing, complimenting the green backsplash. ARS fabricators hit a home run with the outstanding job they did on the gorgeous waterfall sides. Besides the kitchen, we also replaced all of the flooring throughout the home.