This home is remarkable in many ways. It features a simple but unique design that maximizes the site and breathtaking views. The home was originally built by a family who owned a local mill and who had choice selection of the wood used in its construction. We were brought in to restore the integrity of the 40-year-old deck, ensuring the new one preserved the precise aesthetic of the original. The upper level features a cantilevered deck that wraps around the house without obscuring the view from the windows below. The structure of the deck was constructed of abnormally large rough-sawn fir joists milled to custom specifications. The joists run through the entire floor framing of the home and extend out as deck joists. Since the deck joists were so integral to the framing, preservation of the integrity of this structure was paramount. The original cedar deck boards were failing, but the beautiful fir joists were well-preserved and could be fortified. After demoing the existing deck, we carefully removed all signs of dry rot, then tested the integrity of the fir joists. To ensure the longevity of the new deck, we added joists as needed to improve rigidity and weather-sealed the tops of each one with joist tape and metal flashing. For the new decking, we decided on a very strong and durable solution, IPE wood, which we had milled to custom specifications to match the original boards. Working with this extremely hard wood has its challenges, but it was by far the best choice for this project. We honored the design of the original railing by crafting a near replica. Admittedly, we tweaked a few dimensions, enhanced details of the assembly and added a few custom accents.

Vintage Cellars, Wine cellar design and build firm out of San Diego, California, worked with this celebrity client closely to create a gorgeous wine storage design to add depth and point of interest to this at home bar. This hybrid style wine cellar / wine room / custom wine cellar / custom wine room utilizes multiple styles of wine racks / wine racking to keep a modern and contemporary, yet refined and traditional feel in this home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. On the back wall upper section, simple triple deep metal wine racks are used to showcase wine bottles horizontally, so that high providence wine labels can be displayed and celebrated. Clean black metal wine racking looks great against the white walls behind. In the center row of the back wall, a high reveal display is featured, again for more ability and capacity to show off those prized vintages and bottles. This high reveal wine display / angled wine display style section of wood wine racking / wooden wine racking / wood wine racks / wooden wine racks has been carefully thought about by our team to ensure that the angles at which the bottles sit still maintain a wet cork. Below sits room for OWC Original Wood Cases, where the client can store special wine selections often obtained directly from the wineries themselves. Case storage is great for wines which you plan to store for long periods of time, or for those special vintages you might be saving for a special occasion. Diamond Bins finish out this section in the back right corner. Diamond Bin / Diamond Storage / Diamond Wine Storage Bins are interesting design features and utilitarian, leaving you the option to store bottles neck out for easy access. On the right side of this traditional modern hybrid custom wine cellar / custom wine room / custom wine display, individual bottle storage above, wine glass storage, and a small countertop are the highlights. Cabinetry below finishes the side which butts up to a dividing wall and into the floor to ceiling glass doors in front. Dark stained Alder wood was chosen as the material for the wine racks / wine racking / wine rack. The custom finishing and staining, completed by Wine Cellar Design and Builders Vintage Cellars, perfectly accentuates the remaining features of the home bar, bar chairs / bar stools, and other wood features throughout the room. The small / mid-sized custom wine storage space attached to this custom bar makes a great addition to this living room. Hosting get togethers in this space feels so easy. This fantastic example of a hybrid modern / contemporary and traditional style of custom wine cellar / custom wine room / custom wine wall / custom wine display is extremely popular in this area in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles - as well as in other areas nearby such as Bel Air, Hollywood, Santa Monica, Hollywood Hills, Hancock Park, Thousand Oaks, Tarzana, Pasadena, Calabasas, Pacific Palisades, Venice, and Malibu. They are even showing up more and more in Orange County, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Coto De Caza, Crystal Cove, Huntington Beach, Manhattan Beach, Seal Beach, Laguna Beach, Irvine, San Clemente, and Dana Point. Vintage Cellars has built gorgeous custom wine cellars and wine storage rooms across the United States and World for over 25 years. We are your go-to business for anything wine cellar and wine storage related! Whether you're interested in a wine closet, wine racking, custom wine racks, a custom wine cellar door, or a cooling system for your existing space, Vintage Cellars has you covered! We carry all kinds of wine cellar cooling and refrigeration systems, incuding: Breezaire, CellarCool, WhisperKool, Wine Guardian, CellarPro and Commercial systems. We also carry many types of Wine Refrigerators, Wine Cabinets, and wine racking types, including La Cache, Marvel, N'Finity, Transtherm, Vinotheque, Vintage Series, Credenza, Walk in wine rooms, Climadiff, Riedel, Fontenay, and VintageView. Vintage Cellars also does work in many styles, including Contemporary and Modern, Rustic, Farmhouse, Traditional, Craftsman, Industrial, Mediterranean, Mid-Century, Industrial and Eclectic. Some locations we cover often include: Agora Hills, Alameda, Albany, Alhambra, Aliso Viejo, Altadena, Anaheim, Angwin, Arcadia, Aromas, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Atherton, Avila Beach, Balboa Terrace, Bel Air, Belmont, Belvedere, Benton, Berkeley, Bermuda Dunes, Beverly Hills, Big Sur, Bolinas, Boyle Heights, Bradbury, Bradley, Brea, Brentwood, Bridgeport, Brisbane, Buellton, Buena Park, Burbank, Burlingame, Calabasas, Calistoga, Cambria, Canoga Park, Cardiff, Carlsbad, Carmel, Carmel By The Sea, Carmel Valley, Carnelian Bay, Carpinteria, Casmalia, Castroville, Cathedral City, Cayucos, Chatsworth, Chualar, City of LA, City of SF, Coachella, Coleville, Colma, Corona Del Mar, Coronado, Coronado Island, Corte Madera, Costa Mesa, Coto De Caza, Creston, Crystal Cove, Cupertino, Cypress, Danville, Deer Park, Del Mar, Diablo, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Palo Alto, East Pasadena, Echo Park, El Granada, El Monte, Emeryville, Encinitas, Encino, Fairfax, Foster City, Fountain Valley, Fremont, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendale, Golden Gate Park, Goleta, Gonzales, Granada Hills, Granite Bay, Greenbrae, Greenfield, Grover Beach, Guadalupe, Half Moon Bay, Hancock Park, Harmony, Hidden Hills, Hillsborough, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Huntington Beach, Indian Wells, Indio, Industry, Inner Richmond, Inverness, Irvine, Jolon, June Lake, Kentfield, King City, La Canada Flintridge, La Habra, La Honda, La Jolla, La Palma, La Quinta, Ladera Heights, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Balboa, Lake Forest, Lake Tahoe, Lake View Terrace, Larkspur, Laurel Canyon, Lee Vining, Lockwood, Lompoc, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Alamos, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Angeles, Los Gatos, Los Olivos, Los Osos, Malibu, Mammoth Lakes, Manhattan Beach, Marin, Marina, Marshall, Mayflower Village, Menlo Park, Mill Valley, Millbrae, Mission Hills, Mission Viejo, Mono, Monrovia, Montara, Montebello, Monterey, Monterey Park, Morro Bay, Moss Beach, Moss Landing, Mountain View, Napa, New Cuyama, Newark, Newport Beach, Newport Coast, Nicasio, Nipomo, North Hills, Northridge, Novato, Oakland, Oakville, Ocean Beach, Oceano, Orange, Orange County, Pacific Grove, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Palo Alto, Palos Verdes, Panorama City, Pasadena, Paso Robles, Pebble Beach, Pescadero, Piedmont, Pismo Beach, Placentia, Point Reyes Station, Pope Valley, Portola Valley, Presidio, Presidio Heights, Rancho Mirage, Rancho Santa Fe, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redondo Beach, Redwood City, Reseda, Rosemead, Russian Cliff, Rutherford, Saint Helena, Salinas, San Anselmo, San Ardo, San Bruno, San Carlos, San Clemente, San Diego, San Fernando, San Francisco, San Gabriel, San Gregorio, San Jose, San Juan Capistrano, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, San Lucas, San Luis Obispo, San Marino, San Mateo, San Miguel, San Rafael, San Simeon, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Margarita, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Ynez, Saratoga, Sausalito, Sea Cliff, Seal Beach, Seaside, Shadow Hills, Shandon, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Silver Lake, Solana Beach, Soledad, Solvang, Sonoma, South El Monte, South Pasadena, South San Gabriel, Spreckels, Squaw Valley, St Helena, Stanford, Stanton, Stinson Beach, Stough Park, Studio City, Summerland, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sunnyvale, Sylmar, Tahoe City, Tahoe Vista, Tarzana, Temple City, Templeton, Thousand Oaks, Thousand Palms, Tiburon, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Topaz, Torrey Pines, Tujanga, Tustin, Union City, Valencia, Verdugo Mountains, Vernon, Villa Park, Walnut, Walnut Creek, West Puente Valley, Westminster, Westwood, Whittier, Woodside, Yorba Linda, Yountville San Diego Wine Cellars, Rancho Santa Fe Wine Cellars, Beverly Hills Wine Cellars, Bel Air Wine Cellars, Orange County Wine Cellars, Newport Beach Wine Cellars, San Francisco Wine Cellars, Napa Wine Cellars, Sonoma Wine Cellars, Los Angeles Wine Cellars, Santa Barbara Wine Cellars, Palm Desert Wine Cellars, La Jolla Wine Cellars, Del Mar Wine Cellars, Coronado Wine Cellars, Pacific Palisades Wine Cellars, Malibu Wine Cellars, Santa Monica Wine Cellars, Brentwood Wine Cellars, Laguna Wine Cellars, Crystal Cove Wine Cellars, Hollywood Wine Cellars, Bay Area Wine Cellars, South Bay Wine Cellars, LA Wine Cellars, SD Wine Cellars, OC Wine Cellars, SF Wine Cellars, Huntington Beach Wine Cellars, Carlsbad Wine Cellars, Palos Verdes Wine Cellars, Paso Robles Wine Cellars, Encinitas Wine Cellars, Manhattan Beach Wine Cellars, Marin Wine Cellars, Tiburon Wine Cellars, Coto De Caza Wine Cellars, Thousand Oaks Wine Cellars, Cardiff Wine Cellars, RSF Wine Cellars, San Marino Wine Cellars, Ladera Heights Wine Cellars, Westwood Wine Cellars, Hillsborough Wine Cellars, Luxury Wine Cellars, Custom Wine Cellars, High End Wine Cellars, Estate Wine Cellars, Modern Wine Cellars, Contemporary Wine Cellars, Rustic Wine Cellars, Traditional Wine Cellars Contact Vintage Cellars today with any of your Wine Cellar needs! (800) 876-8789 Vintage Cellars 904 Rancheros Drive San Marcos, California 92069 (800) 876-8789

Encounters with entirely unique art objects are always deeply memorable, subconsciously elevating a viewer’s experience in ways that often continue to delight long after first exposure. Such is the effect of this extraordinary Persian Bakshaish rug that will fascinate every dinner guest, including the most seasoned antique carpet connoisseurs, with its totally unexpected, yet profoundly harmonious allover design. Virtuoso abrash allows carefully selected warm reds and an astonishing diversity of prized mid-tone blues to advance and recede with continually changing intensity. Archetypal latchhook and cloudband contours recall the very earliest East Asian symbolism, yet sit extremely well with delicately carved angels and European tapestry, providing this residence with another tableau where connoisseur level carpets seamlessly enrich their eclectic surroundings.

The Lloyd Flanders Mandalay lounge rocker offers subtle curves and a unique 5 strand weave that entices you to sit back, relax and enjoy the day. The wide arms and loose back pillows provide maximal comfort and versatility and are available in a large selection of extremely durable outdoor fabrics. This outdoor wicker swivel rocker will provide years and years of outdoor entertaining and comfort.

These clients win the award for ‘Most Jarrett Design Projects in One Home’! We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been able to work with these kind folks so consistently over the years. The most recent project features their master bath, a room they have been wanting to tackle for many years. We think it was well worth the wait! It started off as an outdated space with an enormous platform tub open to the bedroom featuring a large round column. The open concept was inspired by island homes long ago, but it was time for some privacy. The water closet, shower and linen closet served the clients well, but the tub and vanities had to be updated with storage improvements desired. The clients also wanted to add organized spaces for clothing, shoes and handbags. Swapping the large tub for a dainty freestanding tub centered on the new window, cleared space for gorgeous his and hers vanities and armoires flanking the tub. The area where the old double vanity existed was transformed into personalized storage closets boasting beautiful custom mirrored doors. The bathroom floors and shower surround were replaced with classic white and grey materials. Handmade vessel sinks and faucets add a rich touch. Soft brass wire doors are the highlight of a freestanding custom armoire created to house handbags adding more convenient storage and beauty to the bedroom. Star sconces, bell jar fixture, wallpaper and window treatments selected by the homeowner with the help of the talented Lisa Abdalla Interiors provide the finishing traditional touches for this sanctuary. Jacqueline Powell Photography

Our client was looking to replace the pool tile on the two bridges in his pool area. The client had issues with the previous tile starting to detach from the walls and floors, due to the poor installation of the original tile that was set. The client selected a Starr & Cross pattern in a Saltillo tile layout to coordinate with the rest of his pools and outdoor entertainment areas. The overall project went smoothly, and we made certain that all of the tasks were completed with great care. The client was extremely satisfied with the finished work.

In its 34th consecutive year hosting the Street of Dreams, the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland decided to do something different. They went urban – into the Pearl District. Each year designers clamor for the opportunity to design and style a home in the Street of Dreams. Apparently the allure of designing in contemporary penthouses with cascading views was irresistible to many, because the HBA experienced record interest from the design community at large in 2009. It was an honor to be one of seven designers selected. “The Luster of the Pearl” combined the allure of clean lines and redefined traditional silhouettes with texture and opulence. The color palette was fashion-inspired with unexpected color combinations like smoky violet and tiger-eye gold backed with metallic and warm neutrals. Our design included cosmetic reconstruction of the fireplace, mosaic tile improvements to the kitchen, artistic custom wall finishes and introduced new materials to the Portland market. The process was a whirlwind of early mornings, late nights and weekends. “With an extremely short timeline with large demands, this Street of Dreams challenged me in extraordinary ways that made me a better project manager, communicator, designer and partner to my vendors.” This project won the People’s Choice Award for Best Master Suite at the Northwest Natural 2009 Street of Dreams. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/

Everyone in the family is tall, so we selected generously proportioned, high-backed dining chairs that are extremely comfortable. Custom upholstery with nailhead detailing adds richness. Jeffrey Freeman Photography

What began as a small, extremely dated kitchen in this 1929 Spanish Casa with an even tinier nook that you could hardly eat in has turned into a gorgeous stunner full of life! We stayed true to the original style of the home and selected materials to complement and update its Spanish aesthetic. Luckily for us, our clients were on board with some color-loving ideas too! The peacock blue cabinets pair beautifully with the patterned tile and let those gorgeous accents shine! We kept the original copper hood and designed a functional kitchen with mixed metals, wire mesh cabinet detail, more counter space and room to entertain! See the before images on https://houseofbrazier.com/2019/02/13/curtis-park-project-reveal/ Photos: Sacrep

The Vela sectional outdoor bar allows you to create a mini bar for your own patio or one large enough for the entire neighborhood. Select from single or double wide straight sections, corner section of a door section which connects between two straight sections. Each section has a stainless top and four shelves for storage. The Vela is rotationally molded of 100% recyclable polyethylene and resistant to extreme heat, cold and UV. The Vela will display fluorescent white light only, or an LED version that will display white, red, green, blue, light blue, pink or yellow. The finish is white when not lighted. Uses 120V current and comes with a 10’ cord. Remote control is included. It is also available with a matte or high gloss lacquer finish in several colors.

About this Project: The home remodeling included a kitchen renovation, second floor space reconfigurations, and first floor addition. The purpose was to expand the existing kitchen and create a casual atmosphere by eliminating the formal appearance and unify the kitchen and family room. The homeowners were looking for a traditional kitchen that could be used for dining, entertaining, doing homework while providing ample storage space and a workstation area for bill paying. Demolition was necessary of the existing kitchen and partial exterior of the back of the house and excavation for the addition. The scope of work included new painted kitchen cabinetry and dramatic Cambria stone countertops, new tigerwood exotic hardwood flooring throughout the first floor, new recessed, hanging & under cabinet lighting, and painting of the first floor. The wall paint ushers in a vibrant yet relaxing feeling to the home. Painting existing trim and moldings throughout the first floor refreshes & updates the home. The hardwood flooring flows from the front door to the back door of the first floor and adds a cozy warmth to the home. The finished result is a stunning, warm, spacious kitchen for family and friends to gather. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Testmonial: "I wanted to let you know once again how thrilled we are with the work J. Francis Company recently completed on our home. When we purchased the house we were not convinced that it could become our "home". However after all the work has now been completed we both easily refer to it as our "Home" and not just a house. Your entire team truly made the project - which is never easy - almost enjoyable (or at least as enjoyable a project can be while living without a kitchen!)! Not only was J. Francis extremely professional with respect to the actual construction (JK was absolutely fantastic!!) and the selection of finishes, but they also provided design ideas which we never envisioned. For example the concept of increasing the size of one of our son's bedrooms by taking space from our other son's bedroom was ingenious and in turn it created two equally sized bedrooms which are loved by each of our boys! All told, I would strongly recommend J. Francis to anyone looking for construction needs (in fact I have already made such a recommendation!)." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Photography © Steven Dietz

These clients win the award for ‘Most Jarrett Design Projects in One Home’! We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been able to work with these kind folks so consistently over the years. The most recent project features their master bath, a room they have been wanting to tackle for many years. We think it was well worth the wait! It started off as an outdated space with an enormous platform tub open to the bedroom featuring a large round column. The open concept was inspired by island homes long ago, but it was time for some privacy. The water closet, shower and linen closet served the clients well, but the tub and vanities had to be updated with storage improvements desired. The clients also wanted to add organized spaces for clothing, shoes and handbags. Swapping the large tub for a dainty freestanding tub centered on the new window, cleared space for gorgeous his and hers vanities and armoires flanking the tub. The area where the old double vanity existed was transformed into personalized storage closets boasting beautiful custom mirrored doors. The bathroom floors and shower surround were replaced with classic white and grey materials. Handmade vessel sinks and faucets add a rich touch. Soft brass wire doors are the highlight of a freestanding custom armoire created to house handbags adding more convenient storage and beauty to the bedroom. Star sconces, bell jar fixture, wallpaper and window treatments selected by the homeowner with the help of the talented Lisa Abdalla Interiors provide the finishing traditional touches for this sanctuary. Jacqueline Powell Photography

Distributed by Timspec, Accoya was used chosen as the ideal material to clad a show home in Auckland. Accoya was selected for the black coated weatherboards on the front section of the house, due to its durability and stability benefits. Because of Accoya’s modification technique it is the ideal wood for external cladding such as this. Generally, problems can occur with darker coatings on cladding, due to shrink and swell being exasperated by the solar gain. But, Accoya wood’s superior dimensional stability negates this problem and maintenance intervals are dramatically extended. The cladding needed to be aesthetically pleasing as well as highly durable in order to withstand the extreme climates in New Zealand. Accoya was also chosen due to its rot resistant benefits and its ability to deter insects in these types of environments.

Photo By: Lindsey Neumann This kitchen remodel was fueled by the customer wanting an updated kitchen. They wanted to update with the thought of selling sometime down the road. The new kitchen needed to please them but timeless for the next owners. They love the modern look but didn't want to take it to the extreme. White, flat panel, cabinets keep it fresh and classic. Adding the vertical marble and glass tile give it a little more modern feel. It is truly a beautiful kitchen that will be pleasing to all that live there. Selections: Mid Continent Cabinetry, Allen door, Maple, Painted White, Quartz color-Coarse Pepper, Natural Marble and glass tile, Top Knobs hardware, Blanco Silgranite sink color-Truffle, Lighting-Shades of Light, Appliances-KitchenAid, U-Line wine captain

In its 34th consecutive year hosting the Street of Dreams, the Home Builders Association of Metropolitan Portland decided to do something different. They went urban – into the Pearl District. Each year designers clamor for the opportunity to design and style a home in the Street of Dreams. Apparently the allure of designing in contemporary penthouses with cascading views was irresistible to many, because the HBA experienced record interest from the design community at large in 2009. It was an honor to be one of seven designers selected. “The Luster of the Pearl” combined the allure of clean lines and redefined traditional silhouettes with texture and opulence. The color palette was fashion-inspired with unexpected color combinations like smoky violet and tiger-eye gold backed with metallic and warm neutrals. Our design included cosmetic reconstruction of the fireplace, mosaic tile improvements to the kitchen, artistic custom wall finishes and introduced new materials to the Portland market. The process was a whirlwind of early mornings, late nights and weekends. “With an extremely short timeline with large demands, this Street of Dreams challenged me in extraordinary ways that made me a better project manager, communicator, designer and partner to my vendors.” This project won the People’s Choice Award for Best Master Suite at the Northwest Natural 2009 Street of Dreams. For more about Angela Todd Studios, click here: https://www.angelatoddstudios.com/

These clients win the award for ‘Most Jarrett Design Projects in One Home’! We consider ourselves extremely fortunate to have been able to work with these kind folks so consistently over the years. The most recent project features their master bath, a room they have been wanting to tackle for many years. We think it was well worth the wait! It started off as an outdated space with an enormous platform tub open to the bedroom featuring a large round column. The open concept was inspired by island homes long ago, but it was time for some privacy. The water closet, shower and linen closet served the clients well, but the tub and vanities had to be updated with storage improvements desired. The clients also wanted to add organized spaces for clothing, shoes and handbags. Swapping the large tub for a dainty freestanding tub centered on the new window, cleared space for gorgeous his and hers vanities and armoires flanking the tub. The area where the old double vanity existed was transformed into personalized storage closets boasting beautiful custom mirrored doors. The bathroom floors and shower surround were replaced with classic white and grey materials. Handmade vessel sinks and faucets add a rich touch. Soft brass wire doors are the highlight of a freestanding custom armoire created to house handbags adding more convenient storage and beauty to the bedroom. Star sconces, bell jar fixture, wallpaper and window treatments selected by the homeowner with the help of the talented Lisa Abdalla Interiors provide the finishing traditional touches for this sanctuary. Jacqueline Powell Photography

Designed by Lisa Gebhart of Reico Kitchen & Bath in King of Prussia PA in collaboration with Gebhart Remodeling, this kitchen and mudroom design features Merillat Classic cabinets in the door style Glenrock with 5-piece drawer in Maple Cotton. The kitchen countertops are Silestone Eternal Calacatta Gold. “The client was in desperate need of a new kitchen,” said Lisa. “Their existing cabinet doors were literally falling off. We went through many design revisions and changes until we finally landed on the final design. They wanted to incorporate open shelving as well as some glass cabinetry, but was having a hard time envisioning where and how. In the end, it all came together for the client. One of my favorite things about the space is the live-edge wood tops as well as the overall flow of the layout. The old kitchen had an island that did not fit the space well that we redesigned. The matching wood hood in lieu of a traditional other the range microwave gave added a nice personal touch as well.” “The hardest part of the project was making selections. There are so many options,” said the client. “Lisa was integral to the success of this project. She was practical, realistic and challenged me to really think about my needs and what I was looking for. She was extremely patient and always willing to help me and answer all of my questions throughout the process.” “Her best suggestion was not to think about what anyone else says and choose what I would love, and I’m so glad I did! My original design evolved into the perfect “me” space. I love the space I now have in my new kitchen!” Photos courtesy of Dan Williams Photography.

Woodridge Estate is a new residential suburb located at the northern end of Newlands in Wellington, New Zealand. While the elevated location affords excellent views for many of the properties, the exposed nature of the site to high wind and extreme weather requires the use of super durable materials. Woodridge is looking to feature natural wood cladding on many of their houses. After trying out many different products they selected Vulcan+ cladding as it presents a super stable, durable and locally made solution with beautiful enduring aesthetic properties.

Like many projects, this began with a discussion about reconfiguring the island and refinishing the cabinets. Then the clients asked if I could change their sink (undermounted below granite), add a second dishwasher, and replace her double oven. When they realized the extent of those requests, they decided they might as well replace the cabinets and get the quality, storage, and finishes they wanted. They desired traditional styling with a French motif, and luxurious, yet durable finishes that would complement her eggplant/gold/green fabrics. To avoid more expense, we kept the existing windows and retained the existing placement of major appliances (except the cooktop which we moved slightly for better function). I relocated the microwave to the island so that we could install a built-in, larger refrigerator. I reconfigured the layout to better accommodate the needs of this large family – they have six children and three dogs. Everyone has breakfast, takes lunches, has dinner at home daily, and even the dog food is cooked from scratch. There are great organizational accessories in the cabinets. The full-extension quiet-close dovetail drawers minimize noise and feel like fine furniture. The cabinet and countertop finishes are extremely durable. Even the Iroko wood eating counter is easily maintained using an oil-wax that repels stains. The island shape provides seating for three as well as room for the cooktop, warming drawer, microwave drawer, and generous storage. The sprawling countertop works well for their volume of food preparation. The desk area now functions with proper phone and electrical outlets, file drawers, and enough counter. The choice of flooring was critical – the kitchen is part of a great room that flows into a large entry hall. The existing travertine, tile, and carpet did not wear well. I selected durable porcelain tiles that resemble limestone and wood and created a European-inspired woven design in the entry. A simpler version of the same materials in the kitchen and an inset real wood into the seating area create flow between the rooms. To create more visual interest, I removed non-critical soffits. The remaining soffits were clad with wood so it appears that all is part of the cabinet design. The mixture of glazed cherry and black rubbed-through-paint on cherry finishes are enhanced by the dramatic black and gold veins in the creamy granite counter. We retained the straw and plaster walls that create an old-world feeling. The custom mahogany and iron pantry door balanced the design and completed this truly unique space. Pewter cabinet hardware and patterned glass accentuate the motif. Many of the cabinet accountrements are made from a compo material and recreate historical French mouldings. The remaining adornments are hand-carved wood. On top of beauty and function, the cabinet boxes are made from environmentally-friendly, no formaldehyde-added agriboard. So we have traditional design, ornate mouldings, multi-step finishes, and are still nice to the earth and my clients! My scope of work encompassed the complete design process: from design concepts, through working drawings, materials specifications, purchasing, and project administration. Ed Gohlich - photographer