The client purchased a mature, small, NAPA Valley vineyard to be their home and for personal enjoyment. Once they began converting their new "hobby" grapes into wine, they soon realized they needed a place to "age" their labors and a place to then enjoy them. They decided to design such a place within the confines of their home where they could entertain family and friends. The structure was modified to allow storage of more than 200 individual bottles, cases, and magnum size bottles. A cask room was added as was a well-appointed tasting room. The storage area is separated from the tasting and social area by a tempered glass doors and windows. The space to be converted was a challenge. No surface was plumb or level, therefore, the remodel involved interior walls, new floors and ceilings. Until these issues were addressed, the beautiful cabinet work, and a complete temperature and humidity control system to store, maintain, and enjoy the wine could not be started. The floors had to be floated out and chases with faux finishes provided for HVAC and electrical. Lighting in the tasting room is provided by a series of recessed and puck lights. The bar/counter area is highlighted by a custom, Tiffany style chandelier. Enough space was left in front of the bar to accommodate two serving tables for food and snacks, with plenty of room to move about the space. Discreetly hidden behind the bar is a large capacity cooler that can chill several bottles at once. The bar is capped with eight lineal feet of Calcutta Gold Marble and sports a brass foot rail. The bar has grape panels between Acanthus Corbels and the bottle storage cabinet areas are a unique blend of Acanthus overlays under precisely cut and mitered grape design crown molding over and around a cleverly designed bottle storage system. Traffic flow is achieved through the multiple points of entry through any of three pairs of 6' custom double doors which, when weather permitting, can remain open while entertaining. The host and hostess can attend food and beverage service from behind and around the bar through a separate doorway. The temperature controlled cask storage area is large enough for the clients' current needs, and can accommodate a larger number of casks should the need arise. The floor and walls of the cask room are designed for easy maintenance.. Both rooms are delightfully decorated with earthen tone faux finishes on walls, ceilings and floors reminiscent of a nonspecific European wine making region. This effect is extended to the soffits in the tasting room. A unique wine racking system is easily stored, providing even greater ability to maintain and move about the storage area.

Thinking about a kitchen remodel in the Frederick, MD area? Here’s a closer look at one of our recent projects by Talon Construction Inc. - Q&A style: Q: What makes this kitchen stand out? A: The oversized island is the centerpiece designed for cooking, gathering, and entertaining all in one space. It’s both functional and a true focal point. Q: What materials were used for the countertops and backsplash? A: Vicostone Moonglade Quartz was selected for both the countertops and full-height backsplash, creating a seamless, high-end look with excellent durability. Q: How does the cabinetry design enhance the space? A: The combination of light upper cabinets and contrasting gray base cabinets adds depth while keeping the kitchen bright and open. Clean lines and modern hardware complete the look. Q: What storage solutions were incorporated? A: This kitchen is packed with smart storage with deep drawers, pull-out organizers, a custom pantry, and built-in features that keep everything accessible and clutter-free. Q: Is this kitchen designed for everyday living or entertaining? A: Both. The layout was intentionally designed to support daily functionality while also making it easy to host family and friends. Q: What role does lighting play in the design? A: Layered lighting including pendant lights, recessed lighting, and under-cabinet illumination adds warmth, visibility, and a polished finish. Q: What’s the overall style of this remodel? A: A clean, modern look with timeless elements that perfectly balancing style, comfort, and long-term value. Q: What’s the biggest takeaway from this project? A: A well-designed kitchen isn’t just about looks it’s about creating a space that works beautifully for how you live. Thinking about transforming your kitchen? Let’s talk.

Automated Home Lighting: Revolutionize Your Home with Smart Lighting Solutions Transform your living space with automated home lighting, the latest innovation in smart home technology. Automated lighting systems provide convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced security for homeowners. With smart lighting solutions, you can control your home's lighting from anywhere using voice commands, motion, smartphone app, , or automated schedules. Benefits of Automated Home Lighting Energy Efficiency: Save on energy bills by using smart bulbs and automated lighting controls that adjust brightness based on natural light or occupancy. Convenience: Easily manage your home's lighting with smart home integration, including compatibility with Josh AI, Control 4, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and other voice-activated systems. Enhanced Security: Program your lights to turn on and off at specific times to give the appearance of occupancy, even when you're away, deterring potential intruders. Customization: Create personalized lighting scenes for different moods and activities, such as reading, watching movies, or hosting a dinner party. Features of Smart Lighting Systems Remote Control: Adjust lighting settings from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet. Voice Activation: Use voice commands to control your lights with popular smart home assistants like Josh AI, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Scheduling: Set schedules for your lights to turn on and off at specific times, enhancing convenience and security. Energy Monitoring: Track energy usage and optimize lighting to reduce your carbon footprint. Why Choose Automated Home Lighting? Investing in automated home lighting not only adds convenience and style to your home but also increases its value. Smart lighting systems are easy to install and can be customized to meet your unique needs and preferences. Whether you're looking to improve energy efficiency, enhance home security, or simply enjoy the convenience of modern technology, automated home lighting is the perfect solution.

These clients are empty nesters with grown children and several grandchildren living nearby. They love hosting family gatherings for special occasions and wanted a large space with durable materials and neutral, yet interesting finishes. The large island and perimeter countertop allow space for buffet-style get-togethers, while also feeling perfectly scaled to have breakfast for two from the counter stools. They wanted everything to be of lasting quality, but not feel too precious, so their grandchildren can still have fun running on the porcelain floors and baking on the quartz counters. The clients desired a cohesive space with the best materials, exhibiting a streamlined appeal that still felt welcoming and catered to all their storage needs. The surfaces are low maintenance for easy clean-up and sanitation. The clients wanted custom, solid-wood cabinetry with natural finishes, for an organic element and visual warmth. The design intent for this space was to create an open, serene Kitchen utilizing a functional layout, quality materials, and organic elements. The area is grounded by dark terrazzo-looking porcelain and uplifted by contrasting light fixtures. We wanted this room to be inviting through a variety of textures and layered lighting, as it is situated at the heart of the home. With custom cabinetry, the highest caliber appliances and thoughtful hardware, this Kitchen is sure to stand the test of time. Additionally, clients wanted to hide certain items in the kitchen, such as electronics, appliances, cookbooks, trash, and recycling. Storage for sheet trays, knifes, spices, cutlery and cooking utensils were required. Open display shelves for collectables from travels and an area for a coffee & smoothie bar were also desired. The island incorporates a hidden charging station for electronics, open shelving for cookbooks, while housing an instant hot and chilled water dispenser at the sink. The cabinetry also has a hidden trash and recycling center, specialty spice and cooking utensil pull-outs, drawers with custom inserts for knifes, cutting boards, cutlery, and tableware. An appliance garage allows room for the stand mixer and toaster to be out of sight, but within reach. A lighted coffee and smoothie bar were planned for the clients’ love of coffee and healthy nutrition. The island and floating shelves are made of oak panels with inlaid brass, adding a subtle touch of sparkle and warmth that highlights gold flecks in the island countertop.

The client purchased a mature, small, NAPA Valley vineyard to be their home and for personal enjoyment. Once they began converting their new "hobby" grapes into wine, they soon realized they needed a place to "age" their labors and a place to then enjoy them. They decided to design such a place within the confines of their home where they could entertain family and friends. The structure was modified to allow storage of more than 200 individual bottles, cases, and magnum size bottles. A cask room was added as was a well-appointed tasting room. The storage area is separated from the tasting and social area by a tempered glass doors and windows. The space to be converted was a challenge. No surface was plumb or level, therefore, the remodel involved interior walls, new floors and ceilings. Until these issues were addressed, the beautiful cabinet work, and a complete temperature and humidity control system to store, maintain, and enjoy the wine could not be started. The floors had to be floated out and chases with faux finishes provided for HVAC and electrical. Lighting in the tasting room is provided by a series of recessed and puck lights. The bar/counter area is highlighted by a custom, Tiffany style chandelier. Enough space was left in front of the bar to accommodate two serving tables for food and snacks, with plenty of room to move about the space. Discreetly hidden behind the bar is a large capacity cooler that can chill several bottles at once. The bar is capped with eight lineal feet of Calcutta Gold Marble and sports a brass foot rail. The bar has grape panels between Acanthus Corbels and the bottle storage cabinet areas are a unique blend of Acanthus overlays under precisely cut and mitered grape design crown molding over and around a cleverly designed bottle storage system. Traffic flow is achieved through the multiple points of entry through any of three pairs of 6' custom double doors which, when weather permitting, can remain open while entertaining. The host and hostess can attend food and beverage service from behind and around the bar through a separate doorway. The temperature controlled cask storage area is large enough for the clients' current needs, and can accommodate a larger number of casks should the need arise. The floor and walls of the cask room are designed for easy maintenance.. Both rooms are delightfully decorated with earthen tone faux finishes on walls, ceilings and floors reminiscent of a nonspecific European wine making region. This effect is extended to the soffits in the tasting room. A unique wine racking system is easily stored, providing even greater ability to maintain and move about the storage area.

This 1933 Wauwatosa basement was dark, dingy and lacked functionality. The basement was unfinished with concrete walls and floors. A small office was enclosed but the rest of the space was open and cluttered. The homeowners wanted a warm, organized space for their family. A recent job change meant they needed a dedicated home office. They also wanted a place where their kids could hang out with friends. Their wish list for this basement remodel included: a home office where the couple could both work, a full bathroom, a cozy living room and a dedicated storage room. This basement renovation resulted in a warm and bright space that is used by the whole family. Highlights of this basement: - Home Office: A new office gives the couple a dedicated space for work. There’s plenty of desk space, storage cabinets, under-shelf lighting and storage for their home library. - Living Room: An old office area was expanded into a cozy living room. It’s the perfect place for their kids to hang out when they host friends and family. - Laundry Room: The new laundry room is a total upgrade. It now includes fun laminate flooring, storage cabinets and counter space for folding laundry. - Full Bathroom: A new bathroom gives the family an additional shower in the home. Highlights of the bathroom include a navy vanity, quartz counters, brass finishes, a Dreamline shower door and Kohler Choreograph wall panels. - Staircase: We spruced up the staircase leading down to the lower level with patterned vinyl flooring and a matching trim color. - Storage: We gave them a separate storage space, with custom shelving for organizing their camping gear, sports equipment and holiday decorations. CUSTOMER REVIEW “We had been talking about remodeling our basement for a long time, but decided to make it happen when my husband was offered a job working remotely. It felt like the right time for us to have a real home office where we could separate our work lives from our home lives. We wanted the area to feel open, light-filled, and modern – not an easy task for a previously dark and cold basement! One of our favorite parts was when our designer took us on a 3D computer design tour of our basement. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be our basement!?!’ It was so fun to see how our designer was able to take our wish list and ideas from my Pinterest board, and turn it into a practical design. We were sold after seeing the design, and were pleasantly surprised to see that Kowalske was less costly than another estimate.” – Stephanie, homeowner

Originally from Hawaii, my clients wanted to incorporate the warmth and color of the islands into their California ranch home. Their requests: • Comfortable, serene, uncluttered design • Natural elements • Kitchen more open to dining • Arrangement to accommodate new flat-screen TV viewing Hosting constant visitors, my clients live in their kitchen and enjoy cooking. For Hawaiian colors, I used green quartz, glass tile and counters, iroko flooring, hemlock cabinets, and an unusual slate limestone. To create a lighter, more welcoming space I removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen and increased the entry wall length to create a better kitchen/dining/entry relationship. I added a wall between the family room and kitchen to house tall kitchen elements on one side and TV equipment on the other, as well as create a natural transition for the ceiling height changes. Features: • Ventilated drawers • Composting sink • Energy-efficient lighting • Silent hood and dishwasher When it came to their master bath, my clients requested: • Spa-feeling • Shower for two • Functional makeup area • Two sinks • Linen storage • Walk-in closet • Separate toilet compartment • Door to backyard for pool access. I rearranged the space for convenience and function and created an open shower with double rain and hand-showers, a shallow makeup counter (easy to get close to the mirror), plentiful storage, and seating. Shades of blue and green create a sense of “spa”. Blended textures of honed limestone countertops, slate, glass tile, large-format and mosaic porcelain tile, glass pebbles, granite tile, and ceramic tiles are earthy yet refined. Horizontal patterns create serenity. Storage: • Tall louvered linen cabinet • Flush medicine cabinets • His-and-her pullouts at each end of the vanity • Multiple shower niches • Function-packed walk-in closet • Toilet roll cabinet in toilet vestibule • Bedroom armoire Function: • Seating in shower • Seating in main bath • Convenient towel bars • Silent, powerful vent fans • Good lighting • Textured glass windows add light and privacy. Ed Gohlich photographer

Inspiration for a coastal bathroom remodel in San Diego

Are you looking for the perfect late spring and early summer wispy, white, fragrant flowering tree? If so, the fringe tree is what you are looking for! Not only do these trees create a beautiful addition to any yard, they can also make it look like it snowed when their petals fall. These trees don’t grow as tall as some other flowering trees, making them perfect for planting close to your patio, in small yards, under power lines, or as a shrub border. Our team at Five Star Tree Services has come up with some tips on how to care for these delightful trees and the different varieties they come in. Fringe Tree Appearance The average height of a fringe tree is about 10-20 feet tall. This makes it easy for it to fit into any garden nicely. The most prominent thing about this beautiful tree is its white fragrant flowers which bloom in May and early June. These flowers are grouped together in thin, fleecy hanging bands that are 6-8 inches long. These flowers appear all over the tree just before all the leaves start to sprout. After the flowers have fallen, you can enjoy the oval-shaped, dark green leaves for the summer and then the delightful yellow leaves during the fall. The female trees can produce a blackish-blue fruit after the flowers fall, this is a great way to attract your local birds. The bark on the tree is scaly and has red furrows with dark brown ridges. It does best in full sun with well drained but moist soil. It can also tolerate drought and is good with air pollution. With its strong branches but delicate flowers, in order to maximize your enjoyment of the flowers, make sure to plant this tree somewhere that is sheltered from the wind. The Facts Fringe trees are actually related to the olive family and are native to easters North America. They naturally grow on streambanks and hillsides in moist woods. Due to the tassel-like flowers, another name for this tree is Old Man’s Beard. As a remedy for gallbladder inflammation, previously, the bark from the fringe tree has been used in herbal medicine. It has also historically been used as a way to treat wounds. Varieties of Popular Fringe Trees There are 2 popular fringe trees: Chionanthus Retusus- this is a Chinese fringe tree. It is tall with lush branches and beautiful leaves. Other varieties under this are: -Pizazz -Carolina Moonlight -Rubrum -Emerald Snow -Burgundy -Snowdance Chionanthus Virginicus- this is the native easters North American fringe tree we have been focusing on. Care Instructions Luckily, these trees are easy to care for. To have a happy tree and many blooms, follow these tree care tips. Growth Zones- 3-9 Plant- in moist soil that has good drainage. Height- 12-20 feet when mature. The growth rate is about 6-10 inches a year. Sun Exposure- full sun Flowers- May to early June. The blossoms usually last about 2 weeks. Prune- Do not prune during dormant times. Once the tree is older, it won’t require much pruning. Simply cut out damaged, weak, or dead branches. Deer Resistance- deer rarely damage these trees. Threats With this easy to care for tree, you don’t have to worry about much. However, there are a few pests to look out for. In order to fight off pests like spider mites and scales, proper planting, watering, and fertilizing will keep it healthy and pest free. If a tree gets stressed, borers will take this opportunity to tunnel inside the tree and eat the bark. To keep these trees safe, avoid injuring them. These trees can also act as a secondary host for the emerald ash borer. Avoid planting a fringe tree in known areas where these invasive insects like to live. How Five Star Tree Services Can Help If you have been looking for the perfect flowering tree to plant in your yard, the fringe tree might be the best one for you! If you have any questions about what trees are best for your property, make sure to give us a call at (416) 990-3355! Here at Five Star Tree Services, we can offer different options and also offer you our Richmond Hill Tree Planting Services!

Signature Design Interiors enjoyed transforming this family’s traditional basement into a modern family space for watching sports and movies that could also double as the perfect setting for entertaining friends and guests. Multiple comfortable seating areas were needed and a complete update to all the finishes, from top to bottom, was required. A classy color palette of platinum, champagne, and smoky gray ties all of the spaces together, while geometric shapes and patterns add pops of interest. Every surface was touched, from the flooring to the walls and ceilings and all new furnishings were added. One of the most traditional architectural features in the existing space was the red brick fireplace, accent wall and arches. We painted those white and gave it a distressed finish. Berber carpeting was replaced with an engineered wood flooring with a weathered texture, which is easy to maintain and clean. In the television viewing area, a microfiber sectional is accented with a series of hexagonal tables that have been grouped together to form a multi-surface coffee table with depth, creating an unexpected focal point to the room. A rich leather accent chair and luxe area rug with a modern floral pattern ties in the overall color scheme. New geometric patterned window treatments provide the perfect frame for the wall mounted flat screen television. Oval table lamps in a brushed silver finish add not only light, but also tons of style. Just behind the sofa, there is a custom designed console table with built-in electrical and USB outlets that is paired with leather stools for additional seating when needed. Floor outlets were installed under the sectional in order to get power to the console table. How’s that for charging convenience? Behind the TV area and beside the bar is a small sitting area. It had an existing metal pendant light, which served as a source of design inspiration to build upon. Here, we added a table for games with leather chairs that compliment those at the console table. The family’s sports memorabilia is featured on the walls and the floor is punctuated with a fantastic area rug that brings in our color theme and a dramatic geometric pattern. We are so pleased with the results and wish our clients many years of cheering on their favorite sports teams, watching movies, and hosting great parties in their new modern basement!

Automated Home Lighting: Revolutionize Your Home with Smart Lighting Solutions Transform your living space with automated home lighting, the latest innovation in smart home technology. Automated lighting systems provide convenience, energy efficiency, and enhanced security for homeowners. With smart lighting solutions, you can control your home's lighting from anywhere using voice commands, motion, smartphone app, , or automated schedules. Benefits of Automated Home Lighting Energy Efficiency: Save on energy bills by using smart bulbs and automated lighting controls that adjust brightness based on natural light or occupancy. Convenience: Easily manage your home's lighting with smart home integration, including compatibility with Josh AI, Control 4, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and other voice-activated systems. Enhanced Security: Program your lights to turn on and off at specific times to give the appearance of occupancy, even when you're away, deterring potential intruders. Customization: Create personalized lighting scenes for different moods and activities, such as reading, watching movies, or hosting a dinner party. Features of Smart Lighting Systems Remote Control: Adjust lighting settings from anywhere using your smartphone or tablet. Voice Activation: Use voice commands to control your lights with popular smart home assistants like Josh AI, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Scheduling: Set schedules for your lights to turn on and off at specific times, enhancing convenience and security. Energy Monitoring: Track energy usage and optimize lighting to reduce your carbon footprint. Why Choose Automated Home Lighting? Investing in automated home lighting not only adds convenience and style to your home but also increases its value. Smart lighting systems are easy to install and can be customized to meet your unique needs and preferences. Whether you're looking to improve energy efficiency, enhance home security, or simply enjoy the convenience of modern technology, automated home lighting is the perfect solution.

This 1933 Wauwatosa basement was dark, dingy and lacked functionality. The basement was unfinished with concrete walls and floors. A small office was enclosed but the rest of the space was open and cluttered. The homeowners wanted a warm, organized space for their family. A recent job change meant they needed a dedicated home office. They also wanted a place where their kids could hang out with friends. Their wish list for this basement remodel included: a home office where the couple could both work, a full bathroom, a cozy living room and a dedicated storage room. This basement renovation resulted in a warm and bright space that is used by the whole family. Highlights of this basement: - Home Office: A new office gives the couple a dedicated space for work. There’s plenty of desk space, storage cabinets, under-shelf lighting and storage for their home library. - Living Room: An old office area was expanded into a cozy living room. It’s the perfect place for their kids to hang out when they host friends and family. - Laundry Room: The new laundry room is a total upgrade. It now includes fun laminate flooring, storage cabinets and counter space for folding laundry. - Full Bathroom: A new bathroom gives the family an additional shower in the home. Highlights of the bathroom include a navy vanity, quartz counters, brass finishes, a Dreamline shower door and Kohler Choreograph wall panels. - Staircase: We spruced up the staircase leading down to the lower level with patterned vinyl flooring and a matching trim color. - Storage: We gave them a separate storage space, with custom shelving for organizing their camping gear, sports equipment and holiday decorations. CUSTOMER REVIEW “We had been talking about remodeling our basement for a long time, but decided to make it happen when my husband was offered a job working remotely. It felt like the right time for us to have a real home office where we could separate our work lives from our home lives. We wanted the area to feel open, light-filled, and modern – not an easy task for a previously dark and cold basement! One of our favorite parts was when our designer took us on a 3D computer design tour of our basement. I remember thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, this could be our basement!?!’ It was so fun to see how our designer was able to take our wish list and ideas from my Pinterest board, and turn it into a practical design. We were sold after seeing the design, and were pleasantly surprised to see that Kowalske was less costly than another estimate.” – Stephanie, homeowner

Originally from Hawaii, my clients wanted to incorporate the warmth and color of the islands into their California ranch home. Their requests: • Comfortable, serene, uncluttered design • Natural elements • Kitchen more open to dining • Arrangement to accommodate new flat-screen TV viewing Hosting constant visitors, my clients live in their kitchen and enjoy cooking. For Hawaiian colors, I used green quartz, glass tile and counters, iroko flooring, hemlock cabinets, and an unusual slate limestone. To create a lighter, more welcoming space I removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen and increased the entry wall length to create a better kitchen/dining/entry relationship. I added a wall between the family room and kitchen to house tall kitchen elements on one side and TV equipment on the other, as well as create a natural transition for the ceiling height changes. Features: • Ventilated drawers • Composting sink • Energy-efficient lighting • Silent hood and dishwasher When it came to their master bath, my clients requested: • Spa-feeling • Shower for two • Functional makeup area • Two sinks • Linen storage • Walk-in closet • Separate toilet compartment • Door to backyard for pool access. I rearranged the space for convenience and function and created an open shower with double rain and hand-showers, a shallow makeup counter (easy to get close to the mirror), plentiful storage, and seating. Shades of blue and green create a sense of “spa”. Blended textures of honed limestone countertops, slate, glass tile, large-format and mosaic porcelain tile, glass pebbles, granite tile, and ceramic tiles are earthy yet refined. Horizontal patterns create serenity. Storage: • Tall louvered linen cabinet • Flush medicine cabinets • His-and-her pullouts at each end of the vanity • Multiple shower niches • Function-packed walk-in closet • Toilet roll cabinet in toilet vestibule • Bedroom armoire Function: • Seating in shower • Seating in main bath • Convenient towel bars • Silent, powerful vent fans • Good lighting • Textured glass windows add light and privacy. Ed Gohlich photographer

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away. When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors. Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors. Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook using Wood-Mode cabinetry. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage. Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way. We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area. And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them.

Originally from Hawaii, my clients wanted to incorporate the warmth and color of the islands into their California ranch home. Their requests: • Comfortable, serene, uncluttered design • Natural elements • Kitchen more open to dining • Arrangement to accommodate new flat-screen TV viewing Hosting constant visitors, my clients live in their kitchen and enjoy cooking. For Hawaiian colors, I used green quartz, glass tile and counters, iroko flooring, hemlock cabinets, and an unusual slate limestone. To create a lighter, more welcoming space I removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen and increased the entry wall length to create a better kitchen/dining/entry relationship. I added a wall between the family room and kitchen to house tall kitchen elements on one side and TV equipment on the other, as well as create a natural transition for the ceiling height changes. Features: • Ventilated drawers • Composting sink • Energy-efficient lighting • Silent hood and dishwasher When it came to their master bath, my clients requested: • Spa-feeling • Shower for two • Functional makeup area • Two sinks • Linen storage • Walk-in closet • Separate toilet compartment • Door to backyard for pool access. I rearranged the space for convenience and function and created an open shower with double rain and hand-showers, a shallow makeup counter (easy to get close to the mirror), plentiful storage, and seating. Shades of blue and green create a sense of “spa”. Blended textures of honed limestone countertops, slate, glass tile, large-format and mosaic porcelain tile, glass pebbles, granite tile, and ceramic tiles are earthy yet refined. Horizontal patterns create serenity. Storage: • Tall louvered linen cabinet • Flush medicine cabinets • His-and-her pullouts at each end of the vanity • Multiple shower niches • Function-packed walk-in closet • Toilet roll cabinet in toilet vestibule • Bedroom armoire Function: • Seating in shower • Seating in main bath • Convenient towel bars • Silent, powerful vent fans • Good lighting • Textured glass windows add light and privacy. Ed Gohlich photographer

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away. When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors. Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors. Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook using Wood-Mode cabinetry. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage. Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way. We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area. And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them.

Originally from Hawaii, my clients wanted to incorporate the warmth and color of the islands into their California ranch home. Their requests: • Comfortable, serene, uncluttered design • Natural elements • Kitchen more open to dining • Arrangement to accommodate new flat-screen TV viewing Hosting constant visitors, my clients live in their kitchen and enjoy cooking. For Hawaiian colors, I used green quartz, glass tile and counters, iroko flooring, hemlock cabinets, and an unusual slate limestone. To create a lighter, more welcoming space I removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen and increased the entry wall length to create a better kitchen/dining/entry relationship. I added a wall between the family room and kitchen to house tall kitchen elements on one side and TV equipment on the other, as well as create a natural transition for the ceiling height changes. Features: • Ventilated drawers • Composting sink • Energy-efficient lighting • Silent hood and dishwasher When it came to their master bath, my clients requested: • Spa-feeling • Shower for two • Functional makeup area • Two sinks • Linen storage • Walk-in closet • Separate toilet compartment • Door to backyard for pool access. I rearranged the space for convenience and function and created an open shower with double rain and hand-showers, a shallow makeup counter (easy to get close to the mirror), plentiful storage, and seating. Shades of blue and green create a sense of “spa”. Blended textures of honed limestone countertops, slate, glass tile, large-format and mosaic porcelain tile, glass pebbles, granite tile, and ceramic tiles are earthy yet refined. Horizontal patterns create serenity. Storage: • Tall louvered linen cabinet • Flush medicine cabinets • His-and-her pullouts at each end of the vanity • Multiple shower niches • Function-packed walk-in closet • Toilet roll cabinet in toilet vestibule • Bedroom armoire Function: • Seating in shower • Seating in main bath • Convenient towel bars • Silent, powerful vent fans • Good lighting • Textured glass windows add light and privacy. Ed Gohlich photographer

Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus' - Purple coneflower with Papilio cresphontes - Giant Swallow Butterfly Austin Ganim Landscape Design, LLC
Inspiration for a small farmhouse full sun front yard landscaping in Burlington for summer.

Originally from Hawaii, my clients wanted to incorporate the warmth and color of the islands into their California ranch home. Their requests: • Comfortable, serene, uncluttered design • Natural elements • Kitchen more open to dining • Arrangement to accommodate new flat-screen TV viewing Hosting constant visitors, my clients live in their kitchen and enjoy cooking. For Hawaiian colors, I used green quartz, glass tile and counters, iroko flooring, hemlock cabinets, and an unusual slate limestone. To create a lighter, more welcoming space I removed the wall between the dining room and kitchen and increased the entry wall length to create a better kitchen/dining/entry relationship. I added a wall between the family room and kitchen to house tall kitchen elements on one side and TV equipment on the other, as well as create a natural transition for the ceiling height changes. Features: • Ventilated drawers • Composting sink • Energy-efficient lighting • Silent hood and dishwasher When it came to their master bath, my clients requested: • Spa-feeling • Shower for two • Functional makeup area • Two sinks • Linen storage • Walk-in closet • Separate toilet compartment • Door to backyard for pool access. I rearranged the space for convenience and function and created an open shower with double rain and hand-showers, a shallow makeup counter (easy to get close to the mirror), plentiful storage, and seating. Shades of blue and green create a sense of “spa”. Blended textures of honed limestone countertops, slate, glass tile, large-format and mosaic porcelain tile, glass pebbles, granite tile, and ceramic tiles are earthy yet refined. Horizontal patterns create serenity. Storage: • Tall louvered linen cabinet • Flush medicine cabinets • His-and-her pullouts at each end of the vanity • Multiple shower niches • Function-packed walk-in closet • Toilet roll cabinet in toilet vestibule • Bedroom armoire Function: • Seating in shower • Seating in main bath • Convenient towel bars • Silent, powerful vent fans • Good lighting • Textured glass windows add light and privacy. Ed Gohlich photographer