Cost Effect - Photos & Ideas

Our busy Silicon Valley clients asked us to convert their tight-quartered 1960’s ranch house to a gracious family home that would meet their long term needs. Ease of living was paramount, both in functionality and in ordered design. The project was completed on a moderate budget.While retaining most of the structure of the existing house to avoid costly structural changes, we opened walls to improve the sight lines and flow of the house and bring in more light. We made small additions at the front and back bedrooms to gain space for the family and relatives. An existing underused patio area was improved with a simple outdoor kitchen and overhang to extend the living space to the outside. Costs were kept down with choices of modest materials. Everything was made to be functional. Ample storage has been built into the right places. The details of the kitchen were carefully worked out to accommodate all the wishes of the various cooks in the family. The house is set up to be easy to keep clean. Acoustic walls separate living from bedroom spaces so adults can enjoy time together while children sleep. The outdoor kitchen has easy access to the indoor kitchen and the garage, and its setup promotes socializing while cooking outdoors. A large part of the narrow back yard was previously unusable space due to a steep slope up to a neighbor’s higher fence. With a new retaining wall and some re-grading we took back more of the yard for the patio and play space on a new lawn. The remodeled house is a mix of contemporary and traditional elements. Cool colors have a calming effect. Traditional items such as prairie style windows, trellis, mosaic tiles, and Shaker style cabinets, break down the scale in an otherwise streamlined, contemporary design. A new gabled roof with a broad arch at the front of the house marks the entry and resolves a challenging form where the central entry is set back from walls on both sides. Photography: Kurt Manley https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-ranch/

Maple Lane Kitchen Design Project

Essence Designs

We completed this kitchen design project for clients of ours and they couldn't be happier with the end result. The kitchen now opens up into the dining and living area which creates a more functional layout and design. We essentially doubled the size of the existing kitchen. Now there is plenty of countertop space, storage, and seating for this family of 5! We designed the kitchen layout using IKEA cabinets in the Grimslov door style and pair with the matching door style from Swedish Doors in the Gentleman's Grey painted finish. This is a great cost-effective solution to create a more custom design. Cabinetry: IKEA & Swedish Door Countertop: Urban Quarry Backsplash Tile: Euro Tile & Stone Light Fixture: Multi Luminaire

Brooklyn Loft Bathroom

De Gracia Architecture

Inspiration for a mid-sized modern master gray tile and metal tile marble floor claw-foot bathtub remodel in New York with a pedestal sink, furniture-like cabinets, dark wood cabinets, solid surface countertops, a two-piece toilet and beige walls

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Mid-Century Rancher in Wyomissing, PA

Spring Creek Design

Tim & Elissa have a beautiful home in the most desirable Wyomissing neighborhood. Broad sidewalks under stately oaks, with nearby parks makes it a perfect place to raise a growing family. But their 2-bedroom mid-century rancher was becoming a squeeze. They asked Spring Creek Design to come up with a cost-effective solution to their space problem, while also tackling some of the home’s aged infrastructure. Design Criteria: - Increase living space by adding a new 2nd storey Master Suite. - Enhance livability with an open floorplan on the first floor. - Improve the connection to the outdoors. - Update basics systems with new windows, HVAC and insulation. - Update interior with paint & refinished floors. Special Features: - Bright, mid-century modern design is true to the home’s vintage. - Custom steel cable railings at both stairways. - New open plan creates strong connections between kitchen, living room, dining room and deck. - High-performance Pella windows throughout, including a new triple-panel slider to the deck.

Exterior Brick Staining - White - After Photo

Spray-Net Vancouver

AFTER photo. Beautiful all white transformation - the project included staining the brick white to give a coastal look to this home. Our stain delivers the breathability & permanent colour transformation you need to cost-effectively revamp your home. Since the porosity of each brick can differ, we’ve formulated a stain that combines the adhesiveness of a paint with the permanent finish of a stain. When latex paint is applied to brick, the film simply lays on top of the surface. This stops moisture inside of the brick from evaporating, leading to blistering & peeling. Our stain travels deep into the pores of your brick and through the chemical process of crystallization, it becomes part of the brick itself, allowing your brick to continuously breathe. For brick with decreased porosity, our stain also has the unique ability to grip to the top of the surface for optimal adhesion. Give us a call to book your free in-home consultation! (604) 260-4525

Mid-Century Rancher in Wyomissing, PA

Spring Creek Design

Chester Residence First Floor Renovation

John R. Schroeder, AIA

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.