An Arts & Crafts Bungalow is one of my favorite styles of homes. We have quite a few of them in our Stockton Mid-Town area. And when C&L called us to help them remodel their 1923 American Bungalow, I was beyond thrilled. As per usual, when we get a new inquiry, we quickly Google the project location while we are talking to you on the phone. My excitement escalated when I saw the Google Earth Image of the sweet Sage Green bungalow in Mid-Town Stockton. "Yes, we would be interested in working with you," I said trying to keep my cool. But what made it even better was meeting C&L and touring their home, because they are the nicest young couple, eager to make their home period perfect. Unfortunately, it had been slightly molested by some bad house-flippers, and we needed to bring the bathroom back to it "roots." We knew we had to banish the hideous brown tile and cheap vanity quickly. But C&L complained about the condensation problems and the constant fight with mold. This immediately told me that improper remodeling had occurred and we needed to remedy that right away. The Before: Frustrations with a Botched Remodel The bathroom needed to be brought back to period appropriate design with all the functionality of a modern bathroom. We thought of things like marble countertop, white mosaic floor tiles, white subway tile, board and batten molding, and of course a fabulous wallpaper. This small (and only) bathroom on a tight budget required a little bit of design sleuthing to figure out how we could get the proper look and feel. Our goal was to determine where to splurge and where to economize and how to complete the remodel as quickly as possible because C&L would have to move out while construction was going on. The Process: Hard Work to Remedy Design and Function During our initial design study, (which included 2 hours in the owners’ home), we noticed framed images of William Morris Arts and Crafts textile patterns and knew this would be our design inspiration. We presented C&L with three options and they quickly selected the Pimpernel Design Concept. We had originally selected the Black and Olive colors with a black vanity, mirror, and black and white floor tile. C&L liked it but weren’t quite sure about the black, We went back to the drawing board and decided the William & Co Pimpernel Wallpaper in Bayleaf and Manilla color with a softer gray painted vanity and mirror and white floor tile was more to their liking. After the Design Concept was approved, we went to work securing the building permit, procuring all the elements, and scheduling our trusted tradesmen to perform the work. We did uncover some shoddy work by the flippers such as live electrical wires hidden behind the wall, plumbing venting cut-off and buried in the walls (hence the constant dampness), the tub barely balancing on two fence boards across the floor joist, and no insulation on the exterior wall. All of the previous blunders were fixed and the bathroom put back to its previous glory. We could feel the house thanking us for making it pretty again. The After Reveal: Cohesive Design Decisions We selected a simple white subway tile for the tub/shower. This is always classic and in keeping with the style of the house. We selected a pre-fab vanity and mirror, but they look rich with the quartz countertop. There is much more storage in this small vanity than you would think. The Transformation: A Period Perfect Refresh We began the remodel just as the pandemic reared and stay-in-place orders went into effect. As C&L were already moved out and living with relatives, we got the go-ahead from city officials to get the work done (after all, how can you shelter in place without a bathroom?). All our tradesmen were scheduled to work so that only one crew was on the job site at a time. We stayed on the original schedule with only a one week delay. The end result is the sweetest little bathroom I've ever seen (and I can't wait to start work on C&L's kitchen next). Thank you for joining me in this project transformation. I hope this inspired you to think about being creative with your design projects, determining what works best in keeping with the architecture of your space, and carefully assessing how you can have the best life in your home.

"Builder Beige" new construction. This guest bath came with bare white cabinets, grey walls and basic frame less square mirror with vanity light over the mirror. I added this black oversize picket tile back splash with charcoal/black grout. I replaced the builder grade mirror with a round metal framed one. We changed the lighting by, removing the light above the mirror and added two sconces, one on each side. For the final touch, I added the black hardware, to ensure the white cabinets remain white for as long as possible. Cabinets without hardware tend to get dirty quicker, because the doors pick up the oils from our hands. I wanted to avoid that for as long as possible. The water closet came with this out-swing shower door. The space was extremely tight for the smallest of people, so for anyone of any size would feel closed in. So, I switched out the builder grade out-swing shower door with a semi-frame-less sliding shower door. This allows for more room to move around, opening the space up just a tad.

Vance Vetter Homes
Home bar - industrial home bar idea in Little Rock

A multifunctional music and creative studio designed to inspire creativity while maintaining an urban industrial character. Exposed textures, dark finishes, and focused lighting set the mood, while functional zones accommodate both music practice and casual work. This project demonstrates my ability to combine aesthetics and utility, delivering spaces that feel personal, inspiring, and fully tailored to the client’s lifestyle.

Josiah Zukowski
Staircase - mid-sized modern carpeted straight carpeted staircase idea in Portland with white walls and carpeted risers

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor seated home bar remodel in Kansas City with open cabinets, black cabinets, multicolored backsplash, multicolored countertops, an undermount sink, granite countertops and stone slab backsplash

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Patio - contemporary patio idea in Omaha

A new workshop and build space for a fellow creative! Seeking a space to enable this set designer to work from home, this homeowner contacted us with an idea for a new workshop. On the must list were tall ceilings, lit naturally from the north, and space for all of those pet projects which never found a home. Looking to make a statement, the building’s exterior projects a modern farmhouse and rustic vibe in a charcoal black. On the interior, walls are finished with sturdy yet beautiful plywood sheets. Now there’s plenty of room for this fun and energetic guy to get to work (or play, depending on how you look at it)!

Photo by Brent Moss
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William Wright Photography®.com Etera® Sedum Tiles® used to create a charming garden vignette.
This is an example of a traditional courtyard landscaping in Seattle.

William Wright Photography®.com Etera® Sedum Tiles® used to create a charming garden path.
Photo of a traditional backyard landscaping in Seattle.

Painted Headboard wall in Ronald McDonald Showhouse - Design by Jennifer Mehditash. Custom Builtin California Closet and laundry bin, with hand painted custom Gracie wallcovering. Currey and Co Lighting Stacey van Berkel Photography, Mehditash Design, Raina Kattelson styling

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William Wright Photography®.com Etera® Sedum Tiles® used to create a peaceful place for relaxing.

Barnes Walker Ltd Treehouse designed and built by Treehouse Life Ltd www.treehouselife.co.uk
Photo of a traditional gender-neutral outdoor playset in Manchester.