Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowner and his wife had lived in this beautiful townhome in Oak Brook overlooking a small lake for over 13 years. The home is open and airy with vaulted ceilings and full of mementos from world adventures through the years, including to Cambodia, home of their much-adored sponsored daughter. The home, full of love and memories was host to a growing extended family of children and grandchildren. This was THE place. When the homeowner’s wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, he became determined to create a space that would continue to welcome and host his family and the many wonderful family memories that lay ahead but with an eye towards functionality. We started out by evaluating how the space would be used. Cooking and watching sports were key factors. So, we shuffled the current dining table into a rarely used living room whereby enlarging the kitchen. The kitchen now houses two large islands – one for prep and the other for seating and buffet space. We removed the wall between kitchen and family room to encourage interaction during family gatherings and of course a clear view to the game on TV. We also removed a dropped ceiling in the kitchen, and wow, what a difference. Next, we added some drama with a large arch between kitchen and dining room creating a stunning architectural feature between those two spaces. This arch echoes the shape of the large arch at the front door of the townhome, providing drama and significance to the space. The kitchen itself is large but does not have much wall space, which is a common challenge when removing walls. We added a bit more by resizing the double French doors to a balcony at the side of the house which is now just a single door. This gave more breathing room to the range wall and large stone hood but still provides access and light. We chose a neutral pallet of black, white, and white oak, with punches of blue at the counter stools in the kitchen. The cabinetry features a white shaker door at the perimeter for a crisp outline. Countertops and custom hood are black Caesarstone, and the islands are a soft white oak adding contrast and warmth. Two large built ins between the kitchen and dining room function as pantry space as well as area to display flowers or seasonal decorations. We repeated the blue in the dining room where we added a fresh coat of paint to the existing built ins, along with painted wainscot paneling. Above the wainscot is a neutral grass cloth wallpaper which provides a lovely backdrop for a wall of important mementos and artifacts. The dining room table and chairs were refinished and re-upholstered, and a new rug and window treatments complete the space. The room now feels ready to host more formal gatherings or can function as a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of morning coffee.

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Colorful formal dining room in updated colonial. Custom buffet and host chairs furnished through Ethan Allen Design Center.
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The retaining wall is bordered with privacy screening plants and hedges. In the forefront is a luxury outdoor kitchen and fire feature.
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Our client wanted an elegant space to host intimate dinners in and their pre owned live edge table was the start of the design. Paired with white linen host chairs and black graphic side chairs the combination was a stand out. Stunning lighting and a modern sideboard just added to the look. Windows were draped in lush crushed velvet drapes and a natural sisal rug added texture to the floor.

Faced with the question of moving or renovating, these Dreamers decided they loved their neighborhood too much to relocate and that a basement renovation - which would expand their living space and deliver an entertainment area for their needs - was the solution they were looking for.

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A warm setting for guest as they arrive in this large dining room seating up to twelve guest.
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An ADU and sports court that can truly serve multiple purposes! Perfect inspiration for kids who need a place to hang out with their friends all summer or central hub for family reunion and gatherings with friends. The design team at Ten Key Remodels meticulously selected durable, textured materials throughout the spaces in this Edmond ADU. The kitchenette and fireplace surround are anchored by the luxurious Leathered Black Pearl granite, complemented by stain-grade maple horizontal wall slats and polished concrete floors. Gunmetal cabinetry and matte accent walls seamlessly transition into the entertainment space and half bath. Here, Country Tartan vinyl wallpaper and Calacatta Lavasa quartz add a touch of pattern and warmth. Spanning 1,573 square feet, this structure boasts a two-car garage with epoxy floors, a fully equipped entertainment and game room, and a half bath. All these features are built anew from foundation to roofline on the Edmond property.

Party Palace - Custom Ranch on Acreage in Ridgefield Washington by Cascade West Development Inc. This family is very involved with their church and hosts community events weekly; so the need to access the kitchen, seating areas, dining and entryways with 100+ guests present was imperative. This prompted us and the homeowner to create extra square footage around these amenities. The kitchen also received the double island treatment. Allowing guests to be hosted at one of the larger islands (capable of seating 5-6) while hors d'oeuvres and refreshments can be prepared on the smaller more centrally located island, helped these happy hosts to staff and plan events accordingly. Placement of these rooms relative to each other in the floor plan was also key to keeping all of the excitement happening in one place, making regular events easy to monitor, easy to maintain and relatively easy to clean-up. Some other important features that made this house a party-palace were a hidden butler's pantry, multiple wetbars and prep spaces, sectional seating inside and out, and double dining nooks (formal and informal). Cascade West Facebook: https://goo.gl/MCD2U1 Cascade West Website: https://goo.gl/XHm7Un These photos, like many of ours, were taken by the good people of ExposioHDR - Portland, Or Exposio Facebook: https://goo.gl/SpSvyo Exposio Website: https://goo.gl/Cbm8Ya