Our clients wanted to utilize this particular area of their home and really give it a function. It has been many things over the years: bonus room, dining area, etc. The kitchen is the natural gathering spot. They wanted to create a space that was an extension of the kitchen for entertaining and serving family and friends. Architect, Cynthia Karegeannes was hired to draw up plans for a mudroom to corral the couple’s two dogs and stash the pet’s leashes, treats, etc. A large butler pantry was imagined with a full size refrigerator, prep sink, dishwasher and custom cabinetry to have items handy for entertaining. Innovative Construction, helped finalize the details and implemented the plans for the new addition. Interior Designer, Beth Weltlich with The House Dressing worked with homeowners, to select materials and finishes to unify the areas of the existing kitchen and the new spaces. A custom banquette was created with room under the staircase so that all of the space could be utilized. Furniture and accessories are still in the works as the homeowners let the area evolve to see exactly what their needs are. A collaborative effort-for sure! The challenges included creating three separate areas (mudroom, banquette and butler pantry) with storage and versatility in one existing space. Having this additional space that was not always utilized, the homeowners feel the new addition will become an integral part of the families' living area.

3,069 ft²/4 bd/3.5 bth/1ST located in the Ranches at Joshua Crossing (Comfort, TX). We would be ecstatic to design/build yours too. ? 210-387-6109 ✉️ sales@genuinecustomhomes.com

Island Countertops Quartzite
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen remodel in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, quartz countertops, gray backsplash, porcelain backsplash, colored appliances and an island

AV Architects + Builders Location: Great Falls, VA, USA Our modern farm style home design was exactly what our clients were looking for. They had the charm and the landscape they wanted, but needed a boost to help accommodate a family of four. Our design saw us tear down their existing garage and transform the space into an entertaining family friendly kitchen. This addition moved the entry of the home to the other side and switched the view of the kitchen on the side of the home with more natural light. As for the ceilings, we went ahead and changed the traditional 7’8” ceilings to a 9’4” ceiling. Our decision to approach this home with smart design resulted in removing the existing stick frame roof and replacing it with engineered trusses to have a higher and wider roof, which allowed for the open plan to be implemented without the use of supporting beams. And once the finished product was complete, our clients had a home that doubled in space and created many more opportunities for entertaining and relaxing in style. Stacy Zarin Photography

The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone slabs, this alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And all of this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem we saw was that around the patio area, there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating gaining the most continuous amount of flat space that the client was wanting. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining gaps were then filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and lit up with Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

A contemporary interpretation of nostalgic farmhouse style, this Indiana home nods to its rural setting while updating tradition. A central great room, eclectic objects, and farm implements reimagined as sculpture define its modern sensibility. Photos by Hedrich Blessing

Large transitional l-shaped medium tone wood floor and brown floor open concept kitchen photo in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite countertops, white backsplash, glass tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Design and Construction by USI Design & Remodeling. We removed all the entry level builders millwork and replaced it going to 3D window impressions. The built-in cabinets feature 1/2" glass shelves and the fireplace has slab marble accenting. **See the before picture.

The client purchased this property with grand plans of renovating the entire place; from top to bottom, and from inside to outside. And while the inside canvas was very generous and even somewhat forgiving, the outside space would be anything but. We wanted to squeeze in as much seating space as possible in their limited courtyard area, without encroaching on the already compact-sized pool. The first and most obvious solution was to get rid of the trees and shrubs that separated this house from its zero-lot-line neighbor. With the addition of Lueder limestone slabs, this alone would free up nearly 120 additional square feet, which happened to be the perfect amount of space for a mobile gas fire pit and sectional sofa. And all of this would make for the perfect place to enjoy the afternoon sunset with the implementation of a custom-built metal pergola standing above it all. The next problem we saw was that around the patio area, there were too many levels of steps and stairs, which meant that it would have been difficult to have any sort of traditional furniture arrangement. Randy knew that it only made sense to bring in a wood deck that could be mated to the highest level of the patio, thus creating gaining the most continuous amount of flat space that the client was wanting. But even so, that flat space would be limited to a tight "L-shape" around the pool. And knowing this, the client decided that the larger space would be more valuable to them than the spa, so they opted to have a portion of the deck built over it in order to allow for a more generous amount of patio space. And with the edge of the patio/deck dropping off almost 2 feet to the waterline, it now created the perfect opportunity to have a visually compelling raised wall that could be adorned with different hues of plank-shaped tiles. From inside the pool, the varying shades of brown were a great accent to the wood deck that sat just above. However, the true visual crowning jewel of this project would end up being the raised back wall along the fence, fully encased in a large format, 24x24 slate grey tile, complete with a custom stainless steel, square-tube scupper bank, installed at just the right height to create the perfect amount of water noise. But Randy wasn't done just yet. With two entirely new entertaining areas opened up at opposite ends of the pool, the only thing left to do now was to connect them. Knowing that he nor the client wanted to eliminate any more water space, he decided to bring a new traffic pattern right into the pool by way of two "floating", Lueder limestone stepper pads. It would be a visually perfect union of both pool and walking spaces. The existing steps and walkways were then cut away and replaced with matching Lueder limestone caps and steppers. All remaining gaps were then filled with Mexican beach pebble, which helped to promote a very "zen-like" feel in this outdoor space. The interior of the pool was coated with Wet Edge Primerastone "Blue Pacific Coast" plaster, and lit up with Pentair GloBrite LED pool lights. In the end, the client ended up gaining the additional entertaining and seating space that they needed, and the updated, modern feel that they loved.

Chris Whirlow
Example of a classic home design design in Providence

Photo: Michaela Dodd © 2017 Houzz
Example of a transitional dining room design in Austin

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW A tired primary bathroom, with varying ceiling heights and a beige-on-beige color scheme, was screaming for love. Squaring the room and adding natural materials erased the memory of the lack luster space and converted it to a bright and welcoming spa oasis. The home was a new build in 2005 and it looked like all the builder’s material choices remained. The client was clear on their design direction but were challenged by the differing ceiling heights and were looking to hire a design-build firm that could resolve that issue. This local Glen Ellyn couple found us on Instagram (@kitchenstudioge, follow us ?). They loved our designs and felt like we fit their style. They requested a full primary bath renovation to include a large shower, soaking tub, double vanity with storage options, and heated floors. The wife also really wanted a separate make-up vanity. The biggest challenge presented to us was to architecturally marry the various ceiling heights and deliver a streamlined design. The existing layout worked well for the couple, so we kept everything in place, except we enlarged the shower and replaced the built-in tub with a lovely free-standing model. We also added a sitting make-up vanity. We were able to eliminate the awkward ceiling lines by extending all the walls to the highest level. Then, to accommodate the sprinklers and HVAC, lowered the ceiling height over the entrance and shower area which then opens to the 2-story vanity and tub area. Very dramatic! This high-end home deserved high-end fixtures. The homeowners also quickly realized they loved the look of natural marble and wanted to use as much of it as possible in their new bath. They chose a marble slab from the stone yard for the countertops and back splash, and we found complimentary marble tile for the shower. The homeowners also liked the idea of mixing metals in their new posh bathroom and loved the look of black, gold, and chrome. Although our clients were very clear on their style, they were having a difficult time pulling it all together and envisioning the final product. As interior designers it is our job to translate and elevate our clients’ ideas into a deliverable design. We presented the homeowners with mood boards and 3D renderings of our modern, clean, white marble design. Since the color scheme was relatively neutral, at the homeowner’s request, we decided to add of interest with the patterns and shapes in the room. We were first inspired by the shower floor tile with its circular/linear motif. We designed the cabinetry, floor and wall tiles, mirrors, cabinet pulls, and wainscoting to have a square or rectangular shape, and then to create interest we added perfectly placed circles to contrast with the rectangular shapes. The globe shaped chandelier against the square wall trim is a delightful yet subtle juxtaposition. The clients were overjoyed with our interpretation of their vision and impressed with the level of detail we brought to the project. It’s one thing to know how you want a space to look, but it takes a special set of skills to create the design and see it thorough to implementation. Could hiring The Kitchen Studio be the first step to making your home dreams come to life?

Our clients wanted to utilize this particular area of their home and really give it a function. It has been many things over the years: bonus room, dining area, etc. The kitchen is the natural gathering spot. They wanted to create a space that was an extension of the kitchen for entertaining and serving family and friends. Architect, Cynthia Karegeannes was hired to draw up plans for a mudroom to corral the couple’s two dogs and stash the pet’s leashes, treats, etc. A large butler pantry was imagined with a full size refrigerator, prep sink, dishwasher and custom cabinetry to have items handy for entertaining. Innovative Construction, helped finalize the details and implemented the plans for the new addition. Interior Designer, Beth Weltlich with The House Dressing worked with homeowners, to select materials and finishes to unify the areas of the existing kitchen and the new spaces. A custom banquette was created with room under the staircase so that all of the space could be utilized. Furniture and accessories are still in the works as the homeowners let the area evolve to see exactly what their needs are. A collaborative effort-for sure! The challenges included creating three separate areas (mudroom, banquette and butler pantry) with storage and versatility in one existing space. Having this additional space that was not always utilized, the homeowners feel the new addition will become an integral part of the families' living area.

Our bold collection is confident and courageous. Inspired by Moroccan geometric patterns, the bold collection is fearless. This collection transforms traditional Moroccan influences into a contemporary look by implementing modern finishes as the gold rose lacquer with modern patterns. Adventurers who want to make a statement and looking to add color in their home will adore this set, and although a bold choice; it will bring warmth and style to any living room.

This Boulder, Colorado remodel by fuentesdesign demonstrates the possibility of renewal in American suburbs, and Passive House design principles. Once an inefficient single story 1,000 square-foot ranch house with a forced air furnace, has been transformed into a two-story, solar powered 2500 square-foot three bedroom home ready for the next generation. The new design for the home is modern with a sustainable theme, incorporating a palette of natural materials including; reclaimed wood finishes, FSC-certified pine Zola windows and doors, and natural earth and lime plasters that soften the interior and crisp contemporary exterior with a flavor of the west. A Ninety-percent efficient energy recovery fresh air ventilation system provides constant filtered fresh air to every room. The existing interior brick was removed and replaced with insulation. The remaining heating and cooling loads are easily met with the highest degree of comfort via a mini-split heat pump, the peak heat load has been cut by a factor of 4, despite the house doubling in size. During the coldest part of the Colorado winter, a wood stove for ambiance and low carbon back up heat creates a special place in both the living and kitchen area, and upstairs loft. This ultra energy efficient home relies on extremely high levels of insulation, air-tight detailing and construction, and the implementation of high performance, custom made European windows and doors by Zola Windows. Zola’s ThermoPlus Clad line, which boasts R-11 triple glazing and is thermally broken with a layer of patented German Purenit®, was selected for the project. These windows also provide a seamless indoor/outdoor connection, with 9′ wide folding doors from the dining area and a matching 9′ wide custom countertop folding window that opens the kitchen up to a grassy court where mature trees provide shade and extend the living space during the summer months. With air-tight construction, this home meets the Passive House Retrofit (EnerPHit) air-tightness standard of

Kitchen Remodel highlights a spectacular mix of finishes bringing this transitional kitchen to life. A balance of wood and painted cabinetry for this Millennial Couple offers their family a kitchen that they can share with friends and family. The clients were certain what they wanted in their new kitchen, they choose Dacor appliances and specially wanted a refrigerator with furniture paneled doors. The only company that would create these refrigerator doors are a full eclipse style without a center bar was a custom cabinet company Ovation Cabinetry. The client had a clear vision about the finishes including the rich taupe painted cabinets which blend perfect with the glam backsplash.

Inspiration for a rustic exterior home remodel in Denver

Photo: Heather Banks © 2015 Houzz
Living room - eclectic living room idea in Austin

The entrance of the villa is simply spectacular featuring a net contrast between white and black. The peculiarity of the project is the combination of marble and wood, an essential mix to make a unique and amazing interior furnishing.