Inspiration for a craftsman kitchen remodel in San Francisco

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This young family of four came in right after closing on their house and with a new baby on the way. Our goal was to complete the project prior to baby’s arrival so this project went on the expedite track. The beautiful 1920’s era brick home sits on a hill in a very picturesque neighborhood, so we were eager to give it the kitchen it deserves. The clients’ dream kitchen included pro-style appliances, a large island with seating for five and a kitchen that feels appropriate to the home’s era but that also is fresh and modern. They explicitly stated they did not want a “cookie cutter” design, so we took that to heart. The key challenge was to fit in all of the items on their wish given the room’s constraints. We eliminated an existing breakfast area and bay window and incorporated that area into the kitchen. The bay window was bricked in, and to compensate for the loss of seating, we widened the opening between the kitchen and formal dining room for more of an open concept plan. The ceiling in the original kitchen is about a foot lower than the rest of the house, and once it was determined that it was to hide pipes and other mechanicals, we reframed a large tray over the island and left the rest of the ceiling as is. Clad in walnut planks, the tray provides an interesting feature and ties in with the custom walnut and plaster hood. The space feels modern yet appropriate to its Tudor roots. The room boasts large family friendly appliances, including a beverage center and cooktop/double oven combination. Soft white inset cabinets paired with a slate gray island provide a gentle backdrop to the multi-toned island top, a color echoed in the backsplash tile. The handmade subway tile has a textured pattern at the cooktop, and large pendant lights add more than a bit of drama to the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Tucked away in the backwoods of Torch Lake, this home marries “rustic” with the sleek elegance of modern. The combination of wood, stone and metal textures embrace the charm of a classic farmhouse. Although this is not your average farmhouse. The home is outfitted with a high performing system that seamlessly works with the design and architecture. The tall ceilings and windows allow ample natural light into the main room. Spire Integrated Systems installed Lutron QS Wireless motorized shades paired with Hartmann & Forbes windowcovers to offer privacy and block harsh light. The custom 18′ windowcover’s woven natural fabric complements the organic esthetics of the room. The shades are artfully concealed in the millwork when not in use. Spire installed B&W in-ceiling speakers and Sonance invisible in-wall speakers to deliver ambient music that emanates throughout the space with no visual footprint. Spire also installed a Sonance Landscape Audio System so the homeowner can enjoy music outside. Each system is easily controlled using Savant. Spire personalized the settings to the homeowner’s preference making controlling the home efficient and convenient.

  Free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This young family of four came in right after closing on their house and with a new baby on the way. Our goal was to complete the project prior to baby’s arrival so this project went on the expedite track. The beautiful 1920’s era brick home sits on a hill in a very picturesque neighborhood, so we were eager to give it the kitchen it deserves. The clients’ dream kitchen included pro-style appliances, a large island with seating for five and a kitchen that feels appropriate to the home’s era but that also is fresh and modern. They explicitly stated they did not want a “cookie cutter” design, so we took that to heart. The key challenge was to fit in all of the items on their wish given the room’s constraints. We eliminated an existing breakfast area and bay window and incorporated that area into the kitchen. The bay window was bricked in, and to compensate for the loss of seating, we widened the opening between the kitchen and formal dining room for more of an open concept plan. The ceiling in the original kitchen is about a foot lower than the rest of the house, and once it was determined that it was to hide pipes and other mechanicals, we reframed a large tray over the island and left the rest of the ceiling as is. Clad in walnut planks, the tray provides an interesting feature and ties in with the custom walnut and plaster hood. The space feels modern yet appropriate to its Tudor roots. The room boasts large family friendly appliances, including a beverage center and cooktop/double oven combination. Soft white inset cabinets paired with a slate gray island provide a gentle backdrop to the multi-toned island top, a color echoed in the backsplash tile. The handmade subway tile has a textured pattern at the cooktop, and large pendant lights add more than a bit of drama to the room. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Mike Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

TruCedar Steel Siding shown in 10" Board & Batten in Napa Vine.
Beige two-story metal exterior home idea in Grand Rapids

Our Double Barn Doors come in a stunning shade of White. A paradigm of elegance and minimalism, these doors blend seamlessly with your existing decor, adding a touch of sophistication and style. They believe in the saying that 'less is more,' and these doors perfectly encapsulate that spirit. The Perfect Balance In design, achieving harmony through a balance of contrasts is a treasured accomplishment. This notion is echoed explicitly in our Double Barn Doors. While the Color Palette is predominantly white, the doors are complemented by a handsome Black Rail. This combination is a testament to a well-balanced palette that never fails to impress. Essence of Simplicity Our Double Barn Doors perfectly blend practicality with simplicity. They circumvent the complexity of adding glass elements and instead, focus on providing a robust and hassle-free solution to your interior door needs. The Mark of Quality When you buy interior doors from us, you can be assured of impeccable quality. Each door is meticulously crafted and checked for quality to ensure it not only meets but exceeds your expectations. We hold ourselves to an exceptionally high standard, and our Double Barn Doors are a reflection of our dedication to providing top-quality components to discerning homeowners. Discover the mark of quality by choosing our Double Barn Doors for your home. Experience the tangible difference they can make in elevating your space from ordinary to extraordinary. Take The Step Today So, why wait? Elevate your living space with the addition of stunning Double Barn Doors. Bring in the perfect balance between style and functionality by making a change that will truly distinguish your home. Order and buy doors from us today and rest assured, your home will be better for it. With a streamlined process and a commitment to providing only the best, we assure you of a home transformation that is nothing short of amazing. A Final Note We specialize in providing high-quality doors that are more than just functional installations. We provide timeless creations that serve to enhance the beauty and charm of your home. This philosophy coupled with our determination to serve you in the best way possible sets us apart. Choose us for a world-class door buying experience and make a statement with your doors today.

Our Double Barn Doors come in a stunning shade of White. A paradigm of elegance and minimalism, these doors blend seamlessly with your existing decor, adding a touch of sophistication and style. They believe in the saying that 'less is more,' and these doors perfectly encapsulate that spirit. The Perfect Balance In design, achieving harmony through a balance of contrasts is a treasured accomplishment. This notion is echoed explicitly in our Double Barn Doors. While the Color Palette is predominantly white, the doors are complemented by a handsome Black Rail. This combination is a testament to a well-balanced palette that never fails to impress. Essence of Simplicity Our Double Barn Doors perfectly blend practicality with simplicity. They circumvent the complexity of adding glass elements and instead, focus on providing a robust and hassle-free solution to your interior door needs. The Mark of Quality When you buy interior doors from us, you can be assured of impeccable quality. Each door is meticulously crafted and checked for quality to ensure it not only meets but exceeds your expectations. We hold ourselves to an exceptionally high standard, and our Double Barn Doors are a reflection of our dedication to providing top-quality components to discerning homeowners. Discover the mark of quality by choosing our Double Barn Doors for your home. Experience the tangible difference they can make in elevating your space from ordinary to extraordinary. Take The Step Today So, why wait? Elevate your living space with the addition of stunning Double Barn Doors. Bring in the perfect balance between style and functionality by making a change that will truly distinguish your home. Order and buy doors from us today and rest assured, your home will be better for it. With a streamlined process and a commitment to providing only the best, we assure you of a home transformation that is nothing short of amazing. A Final Note We specialize in providing high-quality doors that are more than just functional installations. We provide timeless creations that serve to enhance the beauty and charm of your home. This philosophy coupled with our determination to serve you in the best way possible sets us apart. Choose us for a world-class door buying experience and make a statement with your doors today.

This is a 50'' Orton Style Rumford Fireplace at my home in Oxford,CT. A Rumford Firplace is made with either a straight rear wall or a slanted one. The slanted ones are the better heaters and I just proved "the more efficient" as they do not have a bigger throat area than the straight variety. The book "The Forgotten Art of Building a Good Fireplace" written bu Vrest Orton in the late 60's descibes the slanted variety well and that is where they picked up the name. He did not invent them rather he wrote of what he witnessed as being nice enjoyable good heating Rumfords . It uses my self made damper and burns all winter long with the damper blade at only a 1-3/4'''' gap opening. This represents a throat area to fireplace opening area of 1 to 30 a achievement that recently left the top authority on Rumford Fireplaces in awe and disbelief as his straight backed Rumfords only get to a 1:20 ratio. Although he remained skeptical and wanting more explicit videos and refusing to sign a nondisclosure agreement, he wanted to know if I could do the same with his chosen styled Rumfords. With a large or small fire the damper stays fixed. Weather is a non issue, even foggy drizzly nights do not effect this fireplace. There are videos at FCasini on You Tube showing the 50'' burning along with my basement 36'' Orton which I did experimenting last winter . The basement [never used before] has no face, so I affixed a steel panel on it to see if it could burn at the same ratio as my 50'' which uses my self made 30 year old damper. Iinstead it has a custom vestal damper which I cut the front off as I occasionally do when the budget is limited. It burned good at a 1 to 26 ratio which is way above the 1/17 that Straight Back Rumfords normally do although their very best is 1/20 ..both of which depend on the use of the highly suggested Tee Pee Fire which will assist any fireplace in smoke evacuation due to solely emitting the smoke form the high end of the standing logs! Both of my fireplaces certainly can use this style fire but I enjoy the horizontal log cabin style because of the easy loading and longer lasting fire per load. This winter I am going to affix a glass panel to get a good look at the throat and inner breast chamber while the fireplace is burning. This will be done in my third [ also un faced like the basement] Rumford. This one uses an outside chimney that is about 18' tall, much shorter than the other two and not as warm an environment being the other two are interior chimneys. I am anxious to see if it will compete with a lesser draft ? I have been searching the patent data base and to date there is nothing close to even resemble the way I get these slanted fireplaces to pass the smoke through such a ridiculously thin throat which I call "The Gates Of Hell". The prototype is complete and installed into this fireplace which is in it's second year of performance testing and doing better than I expected, in fact before installing it last week I cleaned the throat and chimney and damper blade which hasn't been done in 6 years. This did help the performance a lot as the passage is so thin any build up greatly slows it down from the added viscosity ie flow drag. For those that don't understand the benefit of a 1:30 ratio it is half the loss of heated air up the chimney and results in a 50% increase in heat efficiency. This equals a 100% enjoyment factor for anyone whom takes fireplace burning seriously like have done and do for the past 30 years! The house doesn't get sucked cold!

Our Double Barn Doors come in a stunning shade of White. A paradigm of elegance and minimalism, these doors blend seamlessly with your existing decor, adding a touch of sophistication and style. They believe in the saying that 'less is more,' and these doors perfectly encapsulate that spirit. The Perfect Balance In design, achieving harmony through a balance of contrasts is a treasured accomplishment. This notion is echoed explicitly in our Double Barn Doors. While the Color Palette is predominantly white, the doors are complemented by a handsome Black Rail. This combination is a testament to a well-balanced palette that never fails to impress. Essence of Simplicity Our Double Barn Doors perfectly blend practicality with simplicity. They circumvent the complexity of adding glass elements and instead, focus on providing a robust and hassle-free solution to your interior door needs. The Mark of Quality When you buy interior doors from us, you can be assured of impeccable quality. Each door is meticulously crafted and checked for quality to ensure it not only meets but exceeds your expectations. We hold ourselves to an exceptionally high standard, and our Double Barn Doors are a reflection of our dedication to providing top-quality components to discerning homeowners. Discover the mark of quality by choosing our Double Barn Doors for your home. Experience the tangible difference they can make in elevating your space from ordinary to extraordinary. Take The Step Today So, why wait? Elevate your living space with the addition of stunning Double Barn Doors. Bring in the perfect balance between style and functionality by making a change that will truly distinguish your home. Order and buy doors from us today and rest assured, your home will be better for it. With a streamlined process and a commitment to providing only the best, we assure you of a home transformation that is nothing short of amazing. A Final Note We specialize in providing high-quality doors that are more than just functional installations. We provide timeless creations that serve to enhance the beauty and charm of your home. This philosophy coupled with our determination to serve you in the best way possible sets us apart. Choose us for a world-class door buying experience and make a statement with your doors today.

Our Double Barn Doors come in a stunning shade of White. A paradigm of elegance and minimalism, these doors blend seamlessly with your existing decor, adding a touch of sophistication and style. They believe in the saying that 'less is more,' and these doors perfectly encapsulate that spirit. The Perfect Balance In design, achieving harmony through a balance of contrasts is a treasured accomplishment. This notion is echoed explicitly in our Double Barn Doors. While the Color Palette is predominantly white, the doors are complemented by a handsome Black Rail. This combination is a testament to a well-balanced palette that never fails to impress. Essence of Simplicity Our Double Barn Doors perfectly blend practicality with simplicity. They circumvent the complexity of adding glass elements and instead, focus on providing a robust and hassle-free solution to your interior door needs. The Mark of Quality When you buy interior doors from us, you can be assured of impeccable quality. Each door is meticulously crafted and checked for quality to ensure it not only meets but exceeds your expectations. We hold ourselves to an exceptionally high standard, and our Double Barn Doors are a reflection of our dedication to providing top-quality components to discerning homeowners. Discover the mark of quality by choosing our Double Barn Doors for your home. Experience the tangible difference they can make in elevating your space from ordinary to extraordinary. Take The Step Today So, why wait? Elevate your living space with the addition of stunning Double Barn Doors. Bring in the perfect balance between style and functionality by making a change that will truly distinguish your home. Order and buy doors from us today and rest assured, your home will be better for it. With a streamlined process and a commitment to providing only the best, we assure you of a home transformation that is nothing short of amazing. A Final Note We specialize in providing high-quality doors that are more than just functional installations. We provide timeless creations that serve to enhance the beauty and charm of your home. This philosophy coupled with our determination to serve you in the best way possible sets us apart. Choose us for a world-class door buying experience and make a statement with your doors today.

Our Double Barn Doors come in a stunning shade of White. A paradigm of elegance and minimalism, these doors blend seamlessly with your existing decor, adding a touch of sophistication and style. They believe in the saying that 'less is more,' and these doors perfectly encapsulate that spirit. The Perfect Balance In design, achieving harmony through a balance of contrasts is a treasured accomplishment. This notion is echoed explicitly in our Double Barn Doors. While the Color Palette is predominantly white, the doors are complemented by a handsome Black Rail. This combination is a testament to a well-balanced palette that never fails to impress. Essence of Simplicity Our Double Barn Doors perfectly blend practicality with simplicity. They circumvent the complexity of adding glass elements and instead, focus on providing a robust and hassle-free solution to your interior door needs. The Mark of Quality When you buy interior doors from us, you can be assured of impeccable quality. Each door is meticulously crafted and checked for quality to ensure it not only meets but exceeds your expectations. We hold ourselves to an exceptionally high standard, and our Double Barn Doors are a reflection of our dedication to providing top-quality components to discerning homeowners. Discover the mark of quality by choosing our Double Barn Doors for your home. Experience the tangible difference they can make in elevating your space from ordinary to extraordinary. Take The Step Today So, why wait? Elevate your living space with the addition of stunning Double Barn Doors. Bring in the perfect balance between style and functionality by making a change that will truly distinguish your home. Order and buy doors from us today and rest assured, your home will be better for it. With a streamlined process and a commitment to providing only the best, we assure you of a home transformation that is nothing short of amazing. A Final Note We specialize in providing high-quality doors that are more than just functional installations. We provide timeless creations that serve to enhance the beauty and charm of your home. This philosophy coupled with our determination to serve you in the best way possible sets us apart. Choose us for a world-class door buying experience and make a statement with your doors today.

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Custom Surface Solutions (www.css-tile.com) - Owner Craig Thompson (512) 430-1215. This project shows new 12 x 24 tile installed vertically with offset layout pattern on wall and floor. Includes shower box with linear glass accent tile back and vertical glass accent band. Tile edges are finished with Schluter Jolly satin aluminum profile edge trim.

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Example of a 1950s home design design in Seattle

Riad Zasha: Middle Eastern Beauty at the Beach Private Residence / Alys Beach, Florida Architect: Khoury & Vogt Architects Builder: Alys Beach Construction --- “Riad Zasha resides in Alys Beach, a New Urbanist community along Scenic Highway 30-A in the Florida Panhandle,” says the design team at Khoury & Vogt Architects (KVA), the town architects of Alys Beach. “So named by the homeowner, who came with an explicit preference for something more exotic and Middle Eastern, the house evokes Moroccan and Egyptian influences spatially and decoratively while maintaining continuity with its surrounding architecture, all of which is tightly coded.” E. F. San Juan furnished Weather Shield impact-rated windows and doors, a mahogany impact-rated front door, and all of the custom exterior millwork, including shutters, screens, trim, handrails, and gates. The distinctive tower boasts indoor-outdoor “Florida room” living spaces caged in beautiful wooden mashrabiya grilles created by our team. The execution of this incredible home by the professionals at Alys Beach Construction and KVA resulted in a landmark residence for the town. Challenges: “Part of [the Alys Beach] coding, along with the master plan itself, dictated that a tower mark the corner of the lot,” says KVA. “Aligning this with the adjoining park to the south reinforces the axiality of each and locks the house into a greater urban whole.” The sheer amount of custom millwork created for this house made it a challenge, but a welcome one. The unique exterior called for wooden details everywhere, from the shutters to the handrails, mouldings and trim, roof decking, courtyard gates, ceiling panels for the Florida rooms, loggia screen panels, and more—but the tower was the standout element. The homeowners’ desire for Middle Eastern influences was met through the wooden mashrabiya (or moucharaby) oriel-style wooden latticework enclosing the third-story tower living space. Creating this focal point was some of our team’s most unique work to date, requiring the ultimate attention to detail, precision, and planning. The location close to the Gulf of Mexico also dictated that we partner with our friends at Weather Shield on the impact-rated exterior windows and doors, and their Lifeguard line was perfect for the job. The mahogany impact-rated front door also combines safety and security with beauty and style. Solution: Working closely with KVA and Alys Beach Construction on the timeline and planning for our custom wood products, windows, and doors was monumental to the success of this build. The amount of millwork produced meant our team had to carefully manage their time while ensuring we provided the highest quality of detail and work. The location south of Scenic Highway 30-A, steps from the beach, also meant deciding with KVA and Alys Beach Construction what materials should be used for the best possible production quality and looks while adhering to coding and standing the test of time in the harsh Gulfside elements such as high winds, humidity, and salt. The tower elements alone required the utmost care for building and installation. It was truly a test of skill for our team and Alys Beach Construction to create the corbels and other support pieces that would hold up the wooden oriel windows and latticework screens. We couldn’t be happier with the result and are genuinely honored to have been part of the talented team on such a cornerstone residence in the Alys Beach townscape. --- Photography courtesy of Alys Beach

Example of a mid-sized transitional enclosed carpeted and beige floor home theater design in Salt Lake City with gray walls and a wall-mounted tv

Contemporary Parisian style artwork in a bedroom setting.
Example of a minimalist bedroom design in Los Angeles