This is a contemporary living space where the fabric for the drapes was the starting point for the color, then the room was designed around that color scheme. The coffee table was custom made with the graphics from the drapes. The marbles picture was chosen as a bold graphic for the blue accent wall

This shower is 20"x20" tiles on the wall, and river stone on the shower floor. The mosaic is running through the wall tiles and the corner shelves are made of the same granite that was used on the countertop

When the homeowners decided to move from San Francisco to the Central Coast, they were looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, a unique place to call their own, and an environment conducive to raising their young children. They found it all in San Luis Obispo. They had owned a house here in SLO for several years that they had used as a rental. As the homeowners own and run a contracting business and relocation was not impossible, they decided to move their business and make this SLO rental into their dream home. As a rental, the house was in a bare-bones condition. The kitchen had old white cabinets, boring white tile counters, and a horrendous vinyl tile floor. Not only was the kitchen out-of-date and old-fashioned, it was also pretty worn out. The tiles were cracking and the grout was stained, the cabinet doors were sagging, and the appliances were conflicting (ie: you could not open the stove and dishwasher at the same time). To top it all off, the kitchen was just too small for the custom home the homeowners wanted to create. Thus enters San Luis Kitchen. At the beginning of their quest to remodel, the homeowners visited San Luis Kitchen’s showroom and fell in love with our Tuscan Grotto display. They sat down with our designers and together we worked out the scope of the project, the budget for cabinetry and how that fit into their overall budget, and then we worked on the new design for the home starting with the kitchen. As the homeowners felt the kitchen was cramped, it was decided to expand by moving the window wall out onto the existing porch. Besides the extra space gained, moving the wall brought the kitchen window out from under the porch roof – increasing the natural light available in the space. (It really helps when the homeowner both understands building and can do his own contracting and construction.) A new arched window and stone clad wall now highlights the end of the kitchen. As we gained wall space, we were able to move the range and add a plaster hood, creating a focal nice focal point for the kitchen. The other long wall now houses a Sub-Zero refrigerator and lots of counter workspace. Then we completed the kitchen by adding a wrap-around wet bar extending into the old dining space. We included a pull-out pantry unit with open shelves above it, wine cubbies, a cabinet for glassware recessed into the wall, under-counter refrigerator drawers, sink base and trash cabinet, along with a decorative bookcase cabinet and bar seating. Lots of function in this corner of the kitchen; a bar for entertaining and a snack station for the kids. After the kitchen design was finalized and ordered, the homeowners turned their attention to the rest of the house. They asked San Luis Kitchen to help with their master suite, a guest bath, their home control center (essentially a deck tucked under the main staircase) and finally their laundry room. Here are the photos: I wish I could show you the rest of the house. The homeowners took a poor rental house and turned it into a showpiece! They added custom concrete floors, unique fiber optic lighting, large picture windows, and much more. There is now an outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven, an outdoor shower and exquisite garden. They added a dedicated dog run to the side yard for their pooches and a rooftop deck at the very peak. Such a fun house. Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, Barcelona

Inspiration for a transitional bathroom remodel in Philadelphia

Designed By: Sarah Buehlman Marc and Mandy Maister were clients and fans of Cantoni before they purchased this harbor home on Balboa Island. The South African natives originally met designer Sarah Buehlman and Cantoni’s Founder and CEO Michael Wilkov at a storewide sale, and quickly established a relationship as they bought furnishings for their primary residence in Newport Beach. So, when the couple decided to invest in this gorgeous second home, in one of the ritziest enclaves in North America, they sought Sarah’s help in transforming the outdated 1960’s residence into a modern marvel. “It’s now the ultimate beach house,” says Sarah, “and finished in Cantoni from top to bottom—including new custom cabinetry installed throughout.” But let’s back up. This project began when Mandy contacted Sarah in the midst of the remodel process (in December 2010), asking if she could come take a look and help with the overall design. “The plans were being drawn up with an architect, and they opted not to move anything major. Instead, they updated everything—as in the small carpeted staircase that became a gorgeous glass and metal sculpture,” Sarah explains. She took photographs and measurements, and then set to work creating the scaled renderings. “Marc and Mandy were drawn to the One and Only Collection. It features a high-gloss brown and white color scheme which served as inspiration for the project,” says Sarah. Primary pieces in the expansive living area include the Mondrian leather sectional, the Involution sculpture, and a pair of Vladimir Kagan Corkscrew swivel chairs. The Maisters needed a place to house all their electronics but didn’t want a typical entertainment center. The One and Only buffet was actually modified by our skilled shop technicians, in our distribution center, so it could accommodate all the couple’s media equipment. “These artisans are another one of our hidden strengths—in addition to the design tools, inventory and extensive resources we have to get a job done,” adds Sarah. Marc and Mandy also fell in love with the exotic Makassar ebony wood in the Ritz Collection, which Sarah combined in the master bedroom with the Ravenna double chaise to provide an extra place to sit and enjoy the beautiful harbor views. Beyond new furnishings, the Maisters also decided to completely redo their kitchen. And though Marc and Mandy did not have a chance to actually see our kitchen displays, having worked with Sarah over the years, they had immense trust in our commitment to craftsmanship and quality. In fact, they opted for new cabinetry in four bathrooms as well as the laundry room based on our 3D renderings and lacquer samples alone—without ever opening a drawer. “Their trust in my expertise and Cantoni’s reputation were a major deciding factor,” says Sarah. This plush second home, complete with a private boat dock right out back, counts as one of Sarah’s proudest accomplishments. “These long-time clients are great. They love Cantoni and appreciate high quality Italian furnishings in particular. The home is so gorgeous that once you are inside and open the Nano doors, you simply don’t want to leave.” The job took almost two years to complete, but everyone seems quite happy with the results, proving that large or small—and in cases necessitating a quick turnaround or execution of a long-term vision—Cantoni has the resources to come through for all clients.

Dining room - transitional dining room idea in San Francisco

The bright blue cabanas are made of heavy marine grade canvas to withstand heavy winds and rain. They can be zipped closed on all four sides for total protection of the furniture inside. The outdoor area rug was selected to bring the blues and greens from the pool waterline out onto the deck. The neutral cushions and furniture are accented with blue patterned accent pillows. A mini fridge was placed in the cabanas for convenient cold storage

Dale Hall Photography, LLC Dura Supreme Cabinetry
Example of an eclectic ceramic tile kitchen design in Milwaukee with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, subway tile backsplash, black appliances and a peninsula

This client wanted to add some additional counter and bar space to their kitchen/dining area. We wanted the it to look more like a furniture piece than just some some additional kitchen cabinets. The cabinets were done in a grey finish to stand out from the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen. The countertop material is also different but complementary to the counters in the kitchen. The real feature is the great backsplash tile. Not only is the shape really different, the print and texture of the tile mosaic is so interesting

When the homeowners decided to move from San Francisco to the Central Coast, they were looking for a more relaxed lifestyle, a unique place to call their own, and an environment conducive to raising their young children. They found it all in San Luis Obispo. They had owned a house here in SLO for several years that they had used as a rental. As the homeowners own and run a contracting business and relocation was not impossible, they decided to move their business and make this SLO rental into their dream home. As a rental, the house was in a bare-bones condition. The kitchen had old white cabinets, boring white tile counters, and a horrendous vinyl tile floor. Not only was the kitchen out-of-date and old-fashioned, it was also pretty worn out. The tiles were cracking and the grout was stained, the cabinet doors were sagging, and the appliances were conflicting (ie: you could not open the stove and dishwasher at the same time). To top it all off, the kitchen was just too small for the custom home the homeowners wanted to create. Thus enters San Luis Kitchen. At the beginning of their quest to remodel, the homeowners visited San Luis Kitchen’s showroom and fell in love with our Tuscan Grotto display. They sat down with our designers and together we worked out the scope of the project, the budget for cabinetry and how that fit into their overall budget, and then we worked on the new design for the home starting with the kitchen. As the homeowners felt the kitchen was cramped, it was decided to expand by moving the window wall out onto the existing porch. Besides the extra space gained, moving the wall brought the kitchen window out from under the porch roof – increasing the natural light available in the space. (It really helps when the homeowner both understands building and can do his own contracting and construction.) A new arched window and stone clad wall now highlights the end of the kitchen. As we gained wall space, we were able to move the range and add a plaster hood, creating a focal nice focal point for the kitchen. The other long wall now houses a Sub-Zero refrigerator and lots of counter workspace. Then we completed the kitchen by adding a wrap-around wet bar extending into the old dining space. We included a pull-out pantry unit with open shelves above it, wine cubbies, a cabinet for glassware recessed into the wall, under-counter refrigerator drawers, sink base and trash cabinet, along with a decorative bookcase cabinet and bar seating. Lots of function in this corner of the kitchen; a bar for entertaining and a snack station for the kids. After the kitchen design was finalized and ordered, the homeowners turned their attention to the rest of the house. They asked San Luis Kitchen to help with their master suite, a guest bath, their home control center (essentially a deck tucked under the main staircase) and finally their laundry room. Here are the photos: I wish I could show you the rest of the house. The homeowners took a poor rental house and turned it into a showpiece! They added custom concrete floors, unique fiber optic lighting, large picture windows, and much more. There is now an outdoor kitchen complete with pizza oven, an outdoor shower and exquisite garden. They added a dedicated dog run to the side yard for their pooches and a rooftop deck at the very peak. Such a fun house. Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry, Barcelona

Designed By: Sarah Buehlman Marc and Mandy Maister were clients and fans of Cantoni before they purchased this harbor home on Balboa Island. The South African natives originally met designer Sarah Buehlman and Cantoni’s Founder and CEO Michael Wilkov at a storewide sale, and quickly established a relationship as they bought furnishings for their primary residence in Newport Beach. So, when the couple decided to invest in this gorgeous second home, in one of the ritziest enclaves in North America, they sought Sarah’s help in transforming the outdated 1960’s residence into a modern marvel. “It’s now the ultimate beach house,” says Sarah, “and finished in Cantoni from top to bottom—including new custom cabinetry installed throughout.” But let’s back up. This project began when Mandy contacted Sarah in the midst of the remodel process (in December 2010), asking if she could come take a look and help with the overall design. “The plans were being drawn up with an architect, and they opted not to move anything major. Instead, they updated everything—as in the small carpeted staircase that became a gorgeous glass and metal sculpture,” Sarah explains. She took photographs and measurements, and then set to work creating the scaled renderings. “Marc and Mandy were drawn to the One and Only Collection. It features a high-gloss brown and white color scheme which served as inspiration for the project,” says Sarah. Primary pieces in the expansive living area include the Mondrian leather sectional, the Involution sculpture, and a pair of Vladimir Kagan Corkscrew swivel chairs. The Maisters needed a place to house all their electronics but didn’t want a typical entertainment center. The One and Only buffet was actually modified by our skilled shop technicians, in our distribution center, so it could accommodate all the couple’s media equipment. “These artisans are another one of our hidden strengths—in addition to the design tools, inventory and extensive resources we have to get a job done,” adds Sarah. Marc and Mandy also fell in love with the exotic Makassar ebony wood in the Ritz Collection, which Sarah combined in the master bedroom with the Ravenna double chaise to provide an extra place to sit and enjoy the beautiful harbor views. Beyond new furnishings, the Maisters also decided to completely redo their kitchen. And though Marc and Mandy did not have a chance to actually see our kitchen displays, having worked with Sarah over the years, they had immense trust in our commitment to craftsmanship and quality. In fact, they opted for new cabinetry in four bathrooms as well as the laundry room based on our 3D renderings and lacquer samples alone—without ever opening a drawer. “Their trust in my expertise and Cantoni’s reputation were a major deciding factor,” says Sarah. This plush second home, complete with a private boat dock right out back, counts as one of Sarah’s proudest accomplishments. “These long-time clients are great. They love Cantoni and appreciate high quality Italian furnishings in particular. The home is so gorgeous that once you are inside and open the Nano doors, you simply don’t want to leave.” The job took almost two years to complete, but everyone seems quite happy with the results, proving that large or small—and in cases necessitating a quick turnaround or execution of a long-term vision—Cantoni has the resources to come through for all clients.

The next step was to figure out what could the client do herself in order to save money. The design already called for four berms in order to transform the flat space into a more interesting landscape, so we ordered 10 yards of dirt and the homeowner wheelbarrowed it all to the back yard creating four big berms. That saved a good $1,500 in labor. The client also decided to do the final mulch, and to lay the top dressing down for the paths … saving another $1,000 or so. After that decision, we looked at the available budget for the first phase and decided what would be the best bang for the buck. In consultation, we choose to look at what takes the longest to mature over the greatest amount of time and get started there, first. In other words, we put the bones of the garden in first. The bones are those trees and shrubs that will perform the functions of screening, focal points and elevation. Because the budget didn’t call for bringing fully grown plants in by crane, we decided to go with shrubs in five gallon containers and trees in 10 gallon containers. All in all, the first order was roughly 100 plants in that category and these plants will grow to provide different heights, colors, textures, shapes and more.

Vanguard Properties
Small trendy galley light wood floor enclosed kitchen photo in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, metallic backsplash, metal backsplash, stainless steel appliances and no island

When we initially met with our clients, they expressed the need for modernization and updating. The original kitchen had good quality cabinetry but had standard finishes and lacked a little bit of design. With utilizing this kitchen already good bones, and a “few” updates, it’s almost as if it’s a brand new kitchen! This included a fresh new finish for the cabinetry, new countertops, backsplash, and fixtures. Want to learn more about how we transformed this kitchen? Continue reading below! Cabinetry As mentioned above, the kitchen already had great bones. Refinishing cabinetry is not only a great way to save money but a wonderful way to recycle and revamping what you already have. All, we needed to do was remove the door and drawer fronts, paint the cabinet boxes and paint the fronts. Voila! We have a two-tone white and grey kitchen! Already the space was looking fresh and brand new. However, no stopping there. While we were at it, we updated some other stuff as well. Keep reading below! Countertops Having lived with laminate tops for a while, our clients were starting to notice the wear and tear from its daily use. So, they wanted something that would not only last but also is easy to maintain. There’s no better choice than quartz! They decided on a 3cm Caesarstone in Nougat – a great pairing with newly finished cabinetry! Backsplash Having had 12×12 standard tiles as the backsplash, there were lots left to be desired. With tons of options of tile out there, we decided on utilizing two different tile styles as the backsplash. For the main field tile, we have a 3×6 H-line in Pumice, and an accent tile in Daltile Frost Snow marble. Simple, classic, and clean! Fixtures Lastly, the finishing touches of the kitchen, are not just finishing touches. They provide functionality to the space! The sink and faucet are not only beautiful pieces but something you use every single day, so they must be something that works for our client’s space. Our clients decided on a Blanco Quattrus super single bowl in stainless steel, and a Blanco faucet and soap dispenser.

Vanguard Properties
Example of a trendy home design design in San Francisco

Transitional kitchen photo in San Francisco

Transitional living room photo in San Francisco

Transitional kitchen photo in San Francisco with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite countertops, green backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and white countertops