Photo by Carolyn Bates
Example of a mid-sized trendy open concept concrete floor and gray floor living room design in Burlington with a wood stove

Bathroom - mid-sized coastal master white tile and subway tile ceramic tile, gray floor and single-sink bathroom idea in San Diego with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, gray countertops, a built-in vanity, white walls and a vessel sink

Photo of a french country hillside landscaping in Los Angeles.

Architect: Morningside Architects, LLP Contractor: Dovetail Builders Inc. Rick Gardner Photography
Example of a small minimalist wooden straight staircase design in Houston with tile risers

Photo by Carolyn Bates
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary blue two-story wood house exterior remodel in Burlington with a shed roof and a metal roof

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.

Example of a transitional home design design in Burlington

Photo by Carolyn Bates
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary master slate tile and black tile light wood floor bathroom remodel in Burlington

Photo: Susan J. Tweit. shot at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, in an Ozark deciduous woods. The flowers in the foreground are native Tall woodland phlox (Phlox divarcata) and cultivated Shasta daisies (Leucanthemum X superbum).

Family room - mid-sized coastal open concept brown floor and medium tone wood floor family room idea in San Diego with a wall-mounted tv, gray walls and a ribbon fireplace

Large transitional single-wall light wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops

Photo by Michael Heeney
Outdoor patio shower - contemporary side yard outdoor patio shower idea in Burlington with decking and a roof extension

Photo by Carolyn Bates
Mid-sized trendy concrete floor and gray floor sunroom photo in Burlington with a wood stove

The remodeled kitchen features recycled glass tiling that immediately draws you into the space and the lightly colored, frameless bamboo cabinetry brightens the room. The main island was shaped and designed to draw you through the space and act as a preparation area for the green drinks and smoothies the homeowner makes on a daily basis and uses to show her clients how to maintain higher levels of nutrition. The flooring reflects the modern lighting and is made of cork which is ethically harvested. Every last detail is meticulously addressed including the curved knobs and recycled glass teal knobs. One of the drawers near the center island opens up and holds a composter underneath. There is also an urban cultivator that allows the owner to grow and cut fresh herbs and delight in the convenience of the location. The kitchen is perfected and the owner utilizes the kitchen with ease leading to an increase in overall functionality. The look delights every visitor, with a contemporary oasis the owner is completely in love with. This photo features the urban cultivator the owner uses to grow fresh herbs. Photos: Dan Cutrona Photography Canyon Creek Cabinetry

Bedroom - eclectic light wood floor bedroom idea in Nashville with white walls

Le jardinet
Photo of a contemporary landscaping in Phoenix.

Photo by Carolyn Bates
Mid-sized trendy gray two-story wood house exterior photo in Burlington with a shed roof and a metal roof

Photo by Carolyn Bates mural by: http://abbymanock.com/murals-paintings-patterns-fabrics