Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW As with most projects, it all started with the kitchen layout. The home owners came to us wanting to upgrade their kitchen and overall aesthetic in their suburban home, with a combination of fresh paint, updated finishes, and improved flow for more ease when doing everyday activities. A monochromatic, earth-toned palette left the kitchen feeling uninspired. It lacked the brightness they wanted from their space. An eat-in table underutilized the available square footage. The butler’s pantry was out of the way and hard to access, and the dining room felt detached from the kitchen. Lead Designer, Stephanie Cole, saw an improved layout for the spaces that were no longer working for this family. By eliminating an existing wall between the kitchen and dining room, and relocating the bar area to the dining room, we opened up the kitchen, providing all the space we needed to create a dreamy and functional layout. A new perimeter configuration promoted circulation while also making space for a large and functional island loaded with seating – a must for any family. Because an island that isn’t big enough for everyone (and a few more) is a recipe for disaster. The light white cabinetry is fresh and contrasts with the deeper tones in the wood flooring, creating a modern aesthetic that is elevated, yet approachable for everyday living. With better flow as the overarching goal, we made some structural changes too. To remove a bottleneck in the entryway, we angled one of the dining room walls to create more natural separation between rooms and facilitate ease of movement throughout the large space. At The Kitchen Studio, we believe a well-designed kitchen uses every square inch to the fullest. By starting from scratch, it was possible to rethink the entire kitchen layout and design the space according to how it is used, because the kitchen shouldn’t make it harder to feed the family. A new location for the existing range, flanked by a new column refrigerator and freezer on each side, worked to anchor the space. The very large and very spacious island (a dream island if we do say so ourselves) now houses the primary sink and provides ample space for food prep and family gathering. The new kitchen table and coordinating banquette seating provide a cozy nook for quick breakfasts before school or work, and evening homework sessions. Elegant gold details catch the natural light, elevating the aesthetic. The dining room was transformed into one of this client’s favorite spaces and we couldn’t agree more. We saw an opportunity to give the dining room a more distinguished identity by closing off the entrance from the foyer. The relocated wet bar enhances the sophisticated vibe of this gathering space, complete with beautiful antique mirror tiles and open shelving encased by moody built-in cabinets. Updated furnishings add warmth. A rich walnut table is paired with custom chairs in a muted coral fabric. The large, transitional chandelier grounds the room, pairing beautifully with the gold finishes prevalent in the faucet and cabinet hardware. Linen-inspired wallpaper and cream-toned window treatments add to the glamorous feel of this entertainment space. There is no way around it. The laundry room was cramped. The large washer and dryer blocked access to the sink and left little room for the space to serve its other essential function – as a mudroom. Because we reworked the kitchen layout to create more space overall, we could rethink the mudroom too – an essential for any busy family. The first step was moving the washer and dryer to an existing area on the second floor, where most of the family’s laundry lives (no one wants to carry laundry up and down the stairs if they don’t have to anyway). This is a more functional solution and opened up the space for all the mudroom necessities – including the existing kitchen refrigerator, loads of built-in cubbies, and a bench. It’s hard to not fall in love with every detail of a new space, especially when it serves your day-to-day life. But that doesn’t mean the clients didn’t have their favorite features they use on the daily. This remodel was focused largely on function with a new kitchen layout. And it’s the functional features that have the biggest impact. The large island provides much needed workspace in the kitchen and is a spot where everyone gathers together – it grounds the space and the family. And the custom counter stools are the icing on the cake. The nearby mudroom has everything their previous space was lacking – ample storage, space for everyone’s essentials, and the beloved cement floor tiles that are both durable and artistic.

Photography by Ric Johnson http://www.RicJPhotography.com
Example of a transitional home design design in Austin

Our clients know how to live. they have distinguished taste and they entrust us to customize a perfectly appointed home that allows them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Our clients know how to live. they have distinguished taste and they entrust us to customize a perfectly appointed home that allows them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Our clients know how to live. they have distinguished taste and they entrust us to customize a perfectly appointed home that allows them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Example of a trendy bedroom design in Los Angeles

Our clients know how to live. they have distinguished taste and they entrust us to customize a perfectly appointed home that allows them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Our clients know how to live. they have distinguished taste and they entrust us to customize a perfectly appointed home that allows them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Our clients know how to live. they have distinguished taste and they entrust us to customize a perfectly appointed home that allows them to enjoy life to the fullest.

Inspiration for a contemporary freestanding desk medium tone wood floor and brown floor home office remodel in Austin with white walls

For those lucky enough to live lakeside in New Hampshire, warm evening summer breezes are best enjoyed from a comfortable screened porch. This summer camp underwent a drastic renovation and expansion so the family could enjoy life at the lake and offer year-round living to future generations. The project’s design especially focused around expanding the existing screened porch, where the family spends most of their time. Keeping the porch at the best viewing corner of the home, while expanding into a wrap-around style to best take in the water views, was important. Meticulous planning helped navigate the design around strict allowances for a residence with such close proximity to the water, per the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. To make the camp a family cottage, there was a complete re-facing of the exterior, a mudroom addition and a dormer addition to create an office space open to living areas below. Extensive renovations to the interior resulted in a new kitchen for family to gather, reconfiguration to create a first-floor master suite and improved access to the exterior, especially the wrap-around porch. Now the home, and porch, can be enjoyed to the fullest by the owners, family and friends. Greg West

Clients that relocated from NYC fell in love with this home but wanted to update the kitchen to reflect their love of cooking. Using that mandate, the designer maximized both storage and countertops through clever space planning to utilize the existing perimeter to the fullest. The resulting space is a classic white kitchen with soft blue accents in the window treatments and seating. The main marble island was designed to maximize storage and counter surface with the second island done in walnut to match the butler’s pantry. The soft white cabinetry has a custom, brush-stroke finish with unlacquered brass hardware sourced from England. The custom hood and stainless steel backsplash with a warming shelf give the kitchen a professional look and are complemented by the SubZero glass front refrigerator and Wolf range. An upside-down edge detail on the countertops adds surface area, while interior lighting in the display cabinetry highlights dishes and serving pieces. The kitchen shines with unlacquered brass hardware and accents that patinas as it matures, but the crowning glory is the custom pot rack and light fixture by Ann-Morris that illuminates the room.

This Lincoln Park home was beautifully updated and completed with designer finishes to better suit the client’s aesthetic and highlight the space to its fullest potential. We focused on the gathering spaces to create a visually impactful and upscale design. We customized the built-ins and fireplace in the living room which catch your attention when entering the home. The downstairs was transformed into a movie room with a custom dry bar, updated lighting, and a gallery wall that boasts personality and style.

Marble tiles can be tumbled in large drums to achieve an aged and softened effect, and this can look very nice providing that the stone is adequately maintained. In the case of this floor at a property in Twickenham South West London, the Marble tiles that had been laid over five years ago, and in that time the sealer had worn down offering the floor little protection. Dirt had now become ingrained in the pores of the stone and grout, and a deep clean and fresh seal were required to restore the stone’s original colour and lustre. The property owner asked me to complete the job and I was more than happy to oblige. To begin the restoration, I applied both Tile Doctor Pro-Clean, which is a high alkaline cleaner, and Tile Doctor Remove and Go, which a heavy-duty stripper and remover, to the floor and scrubbed the products in using a scrubbing pad fitted to a professional rotary machine. The chemical solvents in the Remove and Go helped to break down any old sealer that remained inside the stone, allowing the Pro Clean to then work its magic on the stubborn ingrained dirt the customer had struggled to remove previously. Some of the deeper veins and grout lines I chose to scrub by hand to ensure the fullest and most meticulous clean possible. The resulting soiled cleaning solution was then pressure rinsed with water and the soil extracted with a wet-vacuum, leaving a completely clean floor that was now ready to be sealed using a new sealant. I returned to the property the following day after allowing the Marble tiles to dry fully. Drying the tiles is a crucial part of the restoration process, since even a small quantity of excess moisture can cloud the sealer and prevent it from working to its fullest capabilities. I applied two coats of our solvent-based impregnating sealer known as Tile Doctor Colour Grow. As the name of the product suggests, Colour Grow not only protects the tiles against ingrained soil, it also thoroughly lifts and enhances the natural colours in the stone. The new seal will make it easy for our customer to maintain the floor, making daily cleaning easier. It will also protect the stone against the nasty spillages that are common in kitchens and living rooms. The customer was thrilled with the much-improved appearance of the Marble tiles and is very reassured that they will now stay in great condition for a long time. Another satisfied client! Jonathan Oldham South Middlesex Tile Doctor

Just because this white kitchen is small it still packs a punch. This "U shaped" Kitchen doesn't have any room for mistakes. Using a farmhouse sink, garden window, and a drawer dishwasher we maximized the space to its fullest potential. The Cambria Quartz countertops and marble mosaic backsplash keeps the tiny kitchen feeling light and open. Designer completed by Danielle Perkins of Danielle Interior Design and Decor. Maximizing the space you live in with Storage, Style and Function. Photography by Taylor Abeel Photography.

Luxury Home Staging - Dining Room Photo Credit Victor Wei Home Staging+Styling-For Selling or Dwelling! Specializing in York Region +the GTA. When selling, we work together with HomeOwners and Realtors to ensure your property is presented at its very best - to secure the maximum selling price, in the shortest time on the market. When Dwelling, the focus is on YOU, what you love, how you want your home to feel, and how you intend to enjoy your living space to the fullest!

Photo Credit: Victor Wei Winsold.com Home Staging+Styling-For Selling or Dwelling! Specializing in York Region +the GTA. When selling, we work together with HomeOwners and Realtors to ensure your property is presented at its very best - to secure the maximum selling price, in the shortest time on the market. When Dwelling, the focus is on YOU, what you love, how you want your home to feel, and how you intend to enjoy your living space to the fullest!

This home was given a fresh remodel, with smooth ceilings, new lighting, new paint, new kitchen and bathrooms. Ready for its new family! Photo Credit www.winsold.com Home Staging+Styling-For Selling or Dwelling! Specializing in York Region +the GTA. When selling, we work together with HomeOwners and Realtors to ensure your property is presented at its very best - to secure the maximum selling price, in the shortest time on the market. When Dwelling, the focus is on YOU, what you love, how you want your home to feel, and how you intend to enjoy your living space to the fullest!

Pro-Land was hired to manage and construct this secluded backyard in the core of Toronto. Working in conjunction with multiple trades and Eden Tree Design Inc., we were able to create this modern space, utilizing every corner of the property to it's fullest potential. Landscape Design: Eden Tree Design Inc. Photographer: McNeill Photography