Transitional l-shaped dark wood floor, brown floor, exposed beam and vaulted ceiling kitchen photo in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, beige cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

The kitchen was at the top of the list for a total overhaul – the worn oak cabinets, dated appliances, and clunky layout all had to go. Removing the decorative soffits allowed us to take the new cabinetry all the way to the ceiling, adding functional storage and visually extending the room’s height. We reconfigured the layout from a modified U to an L-shape which accomplished several things – it opened up the kitchen to the dining room, redirected circulation, and most importantly, created space for an island. A brand new pantry was created for overflow food storage, bulk items, occasional dishware and small appliances, ensuring that our client’s goal of uncluttered countertops was achievable. The finish selections and clean lines give a nod to the home’s mid-century bones. The wood island provides warmth and the light quartz countertops, textured backsplash and white cabinets keep the kitchen feeling light and bright. We opted to install open shelving above the sink which provides display space and needed storage without the bulkiness of an overhead cabinet. The matte black faucet, hardware and decorative pendants add another level of visual interest to the modern kitchen. To unify the kitchen and dining room, we replaced the drab kitchen flooring with select red oak hardwoods that were expertly installed and refinished to match the gorgeous wood flooring throughout the home.

The kitchen in this 1950’s home needed a complete overhaul. It was dark, outdated and inefficient. The homeowners wanted to give the space a modern feel without losing the 50’s vibe that is consistent throughout the rest of the home. The homeowner’s needs included: - Working within a fixed space, though reconfiguring or moving walls was okay - Incorporating work space for two chefs - Creating a mudroom - Maintaining the existing laundry chute - A concealed trash receptacle The new kitchen makes use of every inch of space. To maximize counter and cabinet space, we closed in a second exit door and removed a wall between the kitchen and family room. This allowed us to create two L shaped workspaces and an eat-in bar space. A new mudroom entrance was gained by capturing space from an existing closet next to the main exit door. The industrial lighting fixtures and wrought iron hardware bring a modern touch to this retro space. Inset doors on cabinets and beadboard details replicate details found throughout the rest of this 50’s era house.

Drummond 7835 was in need of a bit of a modern revival to fit the open nature of the house. The configuration is relatively the same. We removed the wall separating the kitchen from the living room allowing the homeowner to take advantage of the wonderful light and visual connection to the back yard. The casework was fabricated at our studio here in Kansas City and is constructed of walnut veneered plywood accented with lime and blue fronts. The utility room was further defined by adding a which also allowed the new kitchen to gain some full height pantry storage. Photography by Bob Greenspan Photography

Example of a transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen design in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The kitchen in this 1950’s home needed a complete overhaul. It was dark, outdated and inefficient. The homeowners wanted to give the space a modern feel without losing the 50’s vibe that is consistent throughout the rest of the home. The homeowner’s needs included: - Working within a fixed space, though reconfiguring or moving walls was okay - Incorporating work space for two chefs - Creating a mudroom - Maintaining the existing laundry chute - A concealed trash receptacle The new kitchen makes use of every inch of space. To maximize counter and cabinet space, we closed in a second exit door and removed a wall between the kitchen and family room. This allowed us to create two L shaped workspaces and an eat-in bar space. A new mudroom entrance was gained by capturing space from an existing closet next to the main exit door. The industrial lighting fixtures and wrought iron hardware bring a modern touch to this retro space. Inset doors on cabinets and beadboard details replicate details found throughout the rest of this 50’s era house.

Abby Grattan - Grattan Imaging
Eat-in kitchen - transitional u-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor eat-in kitchen idea in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, no island and gray countertops

Inspiration for a transitional entryway remodel in Dallas

KITCHEN RENOVATION  CURRENT CRAFTSMAN This client started off just being curious about our services - what we could do, and if we could even help her update her kitchen. She and her husband with their two teenage kids have lived in their home for several years without updating anything since the house was originally built. They didn’t quite have a budget in mind yet. They didn’t know their style, or even if they had one. Their timeline was simple, “as fast as you can so we’re not without a kitchen for very long” (usually what we hear for kitchen updates). After a very productive consultation: determining the scope of work and zeroing in on a budget, I was very excited to update this underwhelming space to something that is modern but timeless, something that is theirs. And, it was easy to see what type of design style they gravitated toward looking at the pieces they already own: Craftsman/Prairie Style. I left the meeting so excited to weave in yet another genre of design to my CDG portfolio! We circled in our contractor to discuss the changes they were looking to make and the scope of work that would be theirs. Then I was off to get designing: // Because the kitchen’s footprint and the defined breakfast space delineated by the bay, we kept the perimeter cabinetry as it was originally laid out. We updated these cabinets to a beautiful soft Alabaster White with a Barn Wood Glaze to highlight the simplicity of the shaker style doors. We added transom cabinets above the uppers, with only the back wall having seeded glass inserts to highlight some of their collectables. // The original shaped island was counter-productive (See what I did there?) in functionality and design. We squared this off to reduce some of the angles and gain more storage. We highlighted the new island with a contrasting oak cabinet in a dark finish, to pay our respects to the craftsman style, and topped with a concrete-like countertop as a nod to the Prairie Style, allowing the homeowners to gain two extra seats and a massive -uninterrupted- work surface. // The small section of cabinetry between the garage entry and fridge now is the perfect dump-station for mail, electronics, whatever is in their hands when they come into the house; and completely hidden by the refrigerator. // The disconnected cabinetry in the breakfast area makes for a great place to have a working office. Accessible from the kitchen or the adjacent great room, this is the perfect place for the kids to do their homework while mom and dad are putting together dinner. The base cabinets are built out for office-type storage: paper and pencil drawers, filing systems, and cord management. Additionally, the long counter provides a ton of worksurface to spread out. // The largest transformation was the pantry. We raised the height of the doorway and added huge custom designed bypass sliding barndoors. Finished with a dark stain to compliment the island and cut to inset 4 stained glass windows, typical of this style of design, and driving home the concept for the whole space. // They were desperate to replace their flooring with something extremely durable to flow throughout the kitchen and the whole main level. This beautiful new flooring is actually a textured LVT(!) Which allowed them to save on overall cost and extend the life of their new flooring purchase. // They loved their copper table, so we kept it and added new simple, mid-century modern chairs around it and a shiny new craftsman-style chandelier above. We added bright barstools in a burnt orange-red accent, and a bright woven rug to tie it all together. // Because the kitchen renovation was shaping up to be pretty spectacular, they decided they needed to now replace their ‘now-these-look-a-little-too-old’ upholstered seating in the neighboring great room with 2 new sofas. We found the perfect sage-y-grey fabric which we covered on sofa frames that have and exposed oak-wood base, which we finished in a warm weathered grey. // As every designer knows, a room isn’t finished until there’s something on the windows. Now that the new flooring was installed and every other room on the main level ‘seemed’ to be updated, we needed to update the window treatments in the dining, and great rooms to reflect their new design concept. I hope you find the ‘after’ photos refreshing (as refreshing as it was for me to work on something that’s not a “Farm House” style that’s saturating the industry right now!) This was such a fun project and a great collaboration with our contractor.

Maple Grove, MN This bathroom remodel was part of a whole Lower Level update. The existing bathroom lacked the rustic look that the homeowner’s wanted and the space was not being fully utilized. A neo-angle shower was replaced with a larger rectangular shape that adds much needed elbow room for a better bathing experience. Porcelain slate tile on the walls in combination with the smooth, river rock floor and accent stripe up the wall add character and the rustic feeling the homeowner’s desired. A larger beech wood vanity and linen cabinet gained the homeowner’s lots of storage space for towels and toiletries. JH Peterson

Everything about this bathroom was small, including the amount of storage. The homeowner’s wanted a new design for their Master Bathroom that would create the illusion of a larger space. With a sloped ceiling and a small footprint that could not be enlarged, Mary Maney had quite a challenge to meet all the storage needs that the homeowner’s requested. A fresh, contemporary color palette and contemporary designs for the plumbing fixtures were a must. To give the illusion of a larger space, a large format porcelain tile that looks like a natural white marble was selected for the floor and runs up one entire wall of the bathroom. A frameless shower door was added to give a clear view of the new tiled shower and shows off the iridescent glass tile on the back wall. The glass tile adds a glitzy shimmer to the room. A soft, blue paint color was selected for the walls and ceiling to coordinate with the tile. To open up the floor space as much as possible, a compact toilet was installed and a contemporary wall mounted vanity in a beautiful blue tone that accents the shower tile nicely. The floating vanity has one large drawer that pulls out and has hidden compartments and an electrical supply for a hair dryer and other hair care tools. Two side by-side recessed medicine cabinets visually open up the room and gain additional storage for make-up and hair care products. This Master Bathroom may be small in square footage, but it is now big on storage. With the soft blue and white color palette, the space is refreshing and the sleek contemporary plumbing fixtures add the element of contemporary design the homeowner’s were looking to achieve.

With the pending arrival of a beautiful baby girl, the homeowners of this 1928 Minneapolis Tudor wanted a basement that was conducive to a young child, but would still allow a place for family to gather and the occasional house guest. The original basement was typical; cold, lacking natural light with tiny, uncomfortably confined rooms and that “unique” basement smell. The goal was to reverse all of the ill effects of a rarely unappreciated space while increasing the performance of the older home. The frigid temperatures and wet, mildew odor was remedied by demolishing the entire slab floor and excavating to gain an extra six inches in ceiling height. It also allowed us to insulate to R-15, moisture proof under the new slab, install a drain tile and sump pump. Within the concrete slab is a hydronic, in-floor radiant heating system which further helps to add comfort to the space. Lastly, we also sprayed a closed-cell, expanding urethane foam on the inside of the foundation walls all the way to the first floor. To help bring more light down to the basement, we started by opening up the staircase on both sides. A curved wall bends light into the lower level while a countertop and cubbies below provide storage space for odds and ends. On the opposite wall, creatively placed cubbies provide places for paintings, ceramics and plants. We also removed the tiny 18” x 34” window on the south wall and installed a full-sized, high-efficiency, triple pane Pella egress window. To let lots of natural light into the window, we expanded the size of the cedar-lined egress well and included a built-in planter at the base to help bring life into an otherwise empty cavity. Small, unspecified spaces that became storage areas now have purpose. The areas are defined, yet open. Upon descending down the stairs, one is greeted by a large living room with curved walls, custom design media center, built-in daybed and bookshelves. Use of paint was important in the design. Naturally in older homes basements are going to have exposed beams, soffits and a whole gambit of nooks and crannies. Instead of disguising them, we played them up, which created a layer effect with the color. The color also adds a touch of playfulness which anyone, regardless of age, can enjoy. We scavenged the client’s garage and discovered that the previous homeowner kept the old, full-view glass front entry door in the garage. We re-installed the original glass knob and attached the door to sliding barn door hardware which was attached to the main structural beam of the lower level. On the other side of the door was the homeowners’ combined office and small fitness area. The office floor is a blend of thin strips of different colored cork. A built-in storage cabinet sits across from a site-built desk which forms to the curve of the dividing wall. A small, square hole in the curved wall provides a view to see who is coming down the stairs. Opposite of the office area and directly at the base of the stairs is a place for the homeowner’s treadmill. Hidden is the mechanical room, which is home to many green and energy efficient products. The washing machine is a low-water consumption unit while the dryer requires less energy to operate than most standard units. Both sit atop a checkerboard pattern of different colored VCT tiles. We also replaced the aging boiler, which only heated the first and second level, with a 95% efficient heat source for the entire house—including the basement. Behind the curved wall, the bathroom is conveniently located. A large, custom built no-formaldehyde added vanity supports the slab of remnant granite countertop. A piece of eco-resin wall panel, embedded with organic material, contains water in the shower and blends beautifully with the updated colors. Tucked under the stairs, we installed a dual-flush, low-water consumption toilet. Through creative space planning, we packed a lot of into a rather small space. As a result, we have three very happy homeowners who are enjoying their light, clean and safe lower level of their home—however, they’ve been hard pressed to think of it as a “basement”. highlights Moisture management system Insulated slab Hydronic in-floor heat Formaldehyde free cabinetry MN-made custom cabinets Ultra-low VOC paints Wool carpet Dual-flush toilet Cork floor No recessed lights Cedar egress window well with planter Re-used door Eco-resin

In this 1930’s home, the kitchen had been previously remodeled in the 90’s. The goal was to make the kitchen more functional, add storage and bring back the original character of the home. This was accomplished by removing the adjoining wall between the kitchen and dining room and adding a peninsula with a breakfast bar where the wall once existed. A redesign of the original breakfast nook created a space for the refrigerator, pantry, utility closet and coffee bar which camouflages the radiator. An exterior door was added so the homeowner could gain access to their back patio. The homeowner also desired a better solution for their coats, so a small mudroom nook was created in their hallway. The products installed were Waypoint 630F Cherry Spice Cabinets, Sangda Falls Quartz with Double Roundover Edge on the Countertop, Crystal Shores Random Linear Glass Tile - Sapphire Lagoon Backsplash, and Hendrik Pendant Lights.

In this 1930’s home, the kitchen had been previously remodeled in the 90’s. The goal was to make the kitchen more functional, add storage and bring back the original character of the home. This was accomplished by removing the adjoining wall between the kitchen and dining room and adding a peninsula with a breakfast bar where the wall once existed. A redesign of the original breakfast nook created a space for the refrigerator, pantry, utility closet and coffee bar which camouflages the radiator. An exterior door was added so the homeowner could gain access to their back patio. The homeowner also desired a better solution for their coats, so a small mudroom nook was created in their hallway. The products installed were Waypoint 630F Cherry Spice Cabinets, Sangda Falls Quartz with Double Roundover Edge on the Countertop, Crystal Shores Random Linear Glass Tile - Sapphire Lagoon Backsplash, and Hendrik Pendant Lights.

In this 1930’s home, the kitchen had been previously remodeled in the 90’s. The goal was to make the kitchen more functional, add storage and bring back the original character of the home. This was accomplished by removing the adjoining wall between the kitchen and dining room and adding a peninsula with a breakfast bar where the wall once existed. A redesign of the original breakfast nook created a space for the refrigerator, pantry, utility closet and coffee bar which camouflages the radiator. An exterior door was added so the homeowner could gain access to their back patio. The homeowner also desired a better solution for their coats, so a small mudroom nook was created in their hallway. The products installed were Waypoint 630F Cherry Spice Cabinets, Sangda Falls Quartz with Double Roundover Edge on the Countertop, Crystal Shores Random Linear Glass Tile - Sapphire Lagoon Backsplash, and Hendrik Pendant Lights.

In this 1930’s home, the kitchen had been previously remodeled in the 90’s. The goal was to make the kitchen more functional, add storage and bring back the original character of the home. This was accomplished by removing the adjoining wall between the kitchen and dining room and adding a peninsula with a breakfast bar where the wall once existed. A redesign of the original breakfast nook created a space for the refrigerator, pantry, utility closet and coffee bar which camouflages the radiator. An exterior door was added so the homeowner could gain access to their back patio. The homeowner also desired a better solution for their coats, so a small mudroom nook was created in their hallway. The products installed were Waypoint 630F Cherry Spice Cabinets, Sangda Falls Quartz with Double Roundover Edge on the Countertop, Crystal Shores Random Linear Glass Tile - Sapphire Lagoon Backsplash, and Hendrik Pendant Lights.

In this 1930’s home, the kitchen had been previously remodeled in the 90’s. The goal was to make the kitchen more functional, add storage and bring back the original character of the home. This was accomplished by removing the adjoining wall between the kitchen and dining room and adding a peninsula with a breakfast bar where the wall once existed. A redesign of the original breakfast nook created a space for the refrigerator, pantry, utility closet and coffee bar which camouflages the radiator. An exterior door was added so the homeowner could gain access to their back patio. The homeowner also desired a better solution for their coats, so a small mudroom nook was created in their hallway. The products installed were Waypoint 630F Cherry Spice Cabinets, Sangda Falls Quartz with Double Roundover Edge on the Countertop, Crystal Shores Random Linear Glass Tile - Sapphire Lagoon Backsplash, and Hendrik Pendant Lights.

Inspiration for a timeless blue two-story mixed siding gable roof remodel in DC Metro with a shingle roof

Built from the ground up on 80 acres outside Dallas, Oregon, this new modern ranch house is a balanced blend of natural and industrial elements. The custom home beautifully combines various materials, unique lines and angles, and attractive finishes throughout. The property owners wanted to create a living space with a strong indoor-outdoor connection. We integrated built-in sky lights, floor-to-ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings to attract ample, natural lighting. The master bathroom is spacious and features an open shower room with soaking tub and natural pebble tiling. There is custom-built cabinetry throughout the home, including extensive closet space, library shelving, and floating side tables in the master bedroom. The home flows easily from one room to the next and features a covered walkway between the garage and house. One of our favorite features in the home is the two-sided fireplace – one side facing the living room and the other facing the outdoor space. In addition to the fireplace, the homeowners can enjoy an outdoor living space including a seating area, in-ground fire pit and soaking tub.