Michele Lee Wilson
Living room - eclectic living room idea in San Francisco

This 1790 farmhouse had received an addition to the historic ell in the 1970s, with a more recent renovation encompassing the kitchen and adding a small mudroom & laundry room in the ’90s. Unfortunately, as happens all too often, it had been done in a way that was architecturally inappropriate style of the home. We worked within the available footprint to create “layers of implied time,” reinstating stylistic integrity and un-muddling the mistakes of more recent renovations.

For this project, the entire kitchen was designed around the “must-have” Lacanche range in the stunning French Blue with brass trim. That was the client’s dream and everything had to be built to complement it. Bilotta senior designer, Randy O’Kane, CKD worked with Paul Benowitz and Dipti Shah of Benowitz Shah Architects to contemporize the kitchen while staying true to the original house which was designed in 1928 by regionally noted architect Franklin P. Hammond. The clients purchased the home over two years ago from the original owner. While the house has a magnificent architectural presence from the street, the basic systems, appointments, and most importantly, the layout and flow were inappropriately suited to contemporary living. The new plan removed an outdated screened porch at the rear which was replaced with the new family room and moved the kitchen from a dark corner in the front of the house to the center. The visual connection from the kitchen through the family room is dramatic and gives direct access to the rear yard and patio. It was important that the island separating the kitchen from the family room have ample space to the left and right to facilitate traffic patterns, and interaction among family members. Hence vertical kitchen elements were placed primarily on existing interior walls. The cabinetry used was Bilotta’s private label, the Bilotta Collection – they selected beautiful, dramatic, yet subdued finishes for the meticulously handcrafted cabinetry. The double islands allow for the busy family to have a space for everything – the island closer to the range has seating and makes a perfect space for doing homework or crafts, or having breakfast or snacks. The second island has ample space for storage and books and acts as a staging area from the kitchen to the dinner table. The kitchen perimeter and both islands are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Paper White. The wall cabinets flanking the sink have wire mesh fronts in a statuary bronze – the insides of these cabinets are painted blue to match the range. The breakfast room cabinetry is Benjamin Moore’s Lampblack with the interiors of the glass cabinets painted in Paper White to match the kitchen. All countertops are Vermont White Quartzite from Eastern Stone. The backsplash is Artistic Tile’s Kyoto White and Kyoto Steel. The fireclay apron-front main sink is from Rohl while the smaller prep sink is from Linkasink. All faucets are from Waterstone in their antique pewter finish. The brass hardware is from Armac Martin and the pendants above the center island are from Circa Lighting. The appliances, aside from the range, are a mix of Sub-Zero, Thermador and Bosch with panels on everything.

For this project, the entire kitchen was designed around the “must-have” Lacanche range in the stunning French Blue with brass trim. That was the client’s dream and everything had to be built to complement it. Bilotta senior designer, Randy O’Kane, CKD worked with Paul Benowitz and Dipti Shah of Benowitz Shah Architects to contemporize the kitchen while staying true to the original house which was designed in 1928 by regionally noted architect Franklin P. Hammond. The clients purchased the home over two years ago from the original owner. While the house has a magnificent architectural presence from the street, the basic systems, appointments, and most importantly, the layout and flow were inappropriately suited to contemporary living. The new plan removed an outdated screened porch at the rear which was replaced with the new family room and moved the kitchen from a dark corner in the front of the house to the center. The visual connection from the kitchen through the family room is dramatic and gives direct access to the rear yard and patio. It was important that the island separating the kitchen from the family room have ample space to the left and right to facilitate traffic patterns, and interaction among family members. Hence vertical kitchen elements were placed primarily on existing interior walls. The cabinetry used was Bilotta’s private label, the Bilotta Collection – they selected beautiful, dramatic, yet subdued finishes for the meticulously handcrafted cabinetry. The double islands allow for the busy family to have a space for everything – the island closer to the range has seating and makes a perfect space for doing homework or crafts, or having breakfast or snacks. The second island has ample space for storage and books and acts as a staging area from the kitchen to the dinner table. The kitchen perimeter and both islands are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Paper White. The wall cabinets flanking the sink have wire mesh fronts in a statuary bronze – the insides of these cabinets are painted blue to match the range. The breakfast room cabinetry is Benjamin Moore’s Lampblack with the interiors of the glass cabinets painted in Paper White to match the kitchen. All countertops are Vermont White Quartzite from Eastern Stone. The backsplash is Artistic Tile’s Kyoto White and Kyoto Steel. The fireclay apron-front main sink is from Rohl while the smaller prep sink is from Linkasink. All faucets are from Waterstone in their antique pewter finish. The brass hardware is from Armac Martin and the pendants above the center island are from Circa Lighting. The appliances, aside from the range, are a mix of Sub-Zero, Thermador and Bosch with panels on everything.

For this project, the entire kitchen was designed around the “must-have” Lacanche range in the stunning French Blue with brass trim. That was the client’s dream and everything had to be built to complement it. Bilotta senior designer, Randy O’Kane, CKD worked with Paul Benowitz and Dipti Shah of Benowitz Shah Architects to contemporize the kitchen while staying true to the original house which was designed in 1928 by regionally noted architect Franklin P. Hammond. The clients purchased the home over two years ago from the original owner. While the house has a magnificent architectural presence from the street, the basic systems, appointments, and most importantly, the layout and flow were inappropriately suited to contemporary living. The new plan removed an outdated screened porch at the rear which was replaced with the new family room and moved the kitchen from a dark corner in the front of the house to the center. The visual connection from the kitchen through the family room is dramatic and gives direct access to the rear yard and patio. It was important that the island separating the kitchen from the family room have ample space to the left and right to facilitate traffic patterns, and interaction among family members. Hence vertical kitchen elements were placed primarily on existing interior walls. The cabinetry used was Bilotta’s private label, the Bilotta Collection – they selected beautiful, dramatic, yet subdued finishes for the meticulously handcrafted cabinetry. The double islands allow for the busy family to have a space for everything – the island closer to the range has seating and makes a perfect space for doing homework or crafts, or having breakfast or snacks. The second island has ample space for storage and books and acts as a staging area from the kitchen to the dinner table. The kitchen perimeter and both islands are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Paper White. The wall cabinets flanking the sink have wire mesh fronts in a statuary bronze – the insides of these cabinets are painted blue to match the range. The breakfast room cabinetry is Benjamin Moore’s Lampblack with the interiors of the glass cabinets painted in Paper White to match the kitchen. All countertops are Vermont White Quartzite from Eastern Stone. The backsplash is Artistic Tile’s Kyoto White and Kyoto Steel. The fireclay apron-front main sink is from Rohl while the smaller prep sink is from Linkasink. All faucets are from Waterstone in their antique pewter finish. The brass hardware is from Armac Martin and the pendants above the center island are from Circa Lighting. The appliances, aside from the range, are a mix of Sub-Zero, Thermador and Bosch with panels on everything.

This beautiful tin ceiling is a great style feature here, but makes effective canister lighting inappropriate. Mini-track directional lighting does the job instead, in an accent color that draws the eye to it's tin ceiling companion.

This 1790 farmhouse had received an addition to the historic ell in the 1970s, with a more recent renovation encompassing the kitchen and adding a small mudroom & laundry room in the ’90s. Unfortunately, as happens all too often, it had been done in a way that was architecturally inappropriate style of the home. We worked within the available footprint to create “layers of implied time,” reinstating stylistic integrity and un-muddling the mistakes of more recent renovations.

A gutted home inappropriate for a growing family was updated with an easy-to-use kitchen with hidden walk-in pantry. A long hallway was turned into the Master Bath with twin vanities, and a shower for two equipped with body sprays and rain shower head.

For this project, the entire kitchen was designed around the “must-have” Lacanche range in the stunning French Blue with brass trim. That was the client’s dream and everything had to be built to complement it. Bilotta senior designer, Randy O’Kane, CKD worked with Paul Benowitz and Dipti Shah of Benowitz Shah Architects to contemporize the kitchen while staying true to the original house which was designed in 1928 by regionally noted architect Franklin P. Hammond. The clients purchased the home over two years ago from the original owner. While the house has a magnificent architectural presence from the street, the basic systems, appointments, and most importantly, the layout and flow were inappropriately suited to contemporary living. The new plan removed an outdated screened porch at the rear which was replaced with the new family room and moved the kitchen from a dark corner in the front of the house to the center. The visual connection from the kitchen through the family room is dramatic and gives direct access to the rear yard and patio. It was important that the island separating the kitchen from the family room have ample space to the left and right to facilitate traffic patterns, and interaction among family members. Hence vertical kitchen elements were placed primarily on existing interior walls. The cabinetry used was Bilotta’s private label, the Bilotta Collection – they selected beautiful, dramatic, yet subdued finishes for the meticulously handcrafted cabinetry. The double islands allow for the busy family to have a space for everything – the island closer to the range has seating and makes a perfect space for doing homework or crafts, or having breakfast or snacks. The second island has ample space for storage and books and acts as a staging area from the kitchen to the dinner table. The kitchen perimeter and both islands are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Paper White. The wall cabinets flanking the sink have wire mesh fronts in a statuary bronze – the insides of these cabinets are painted blue to match the range. The breakfast room cabinetry is Benjamin Moore’s Lampblack with the interiors of the glass cabinets painted in Paper White to match the kitchen. All countertops are Vermont White Quartzite from Eastern Stone. The backsplash is Artistic Tile’s Kyoto White and Kyoto Steel. The fireclay apron-front main sink is from Rohl while the smaller prep sink is from Linkasink. All faucets are from Waterstone in their antique pewter finish. The brass hardware is from Armac Martin and the pendants above the center island are from Circa Lighting. The appliances, aside from the range, are a mix of Sub-Zero, Thermador and Bosch with panels on everything.

This 1790 farmhouse had received an addition to the historic ell in the 1970s, with a more recent renovation encompassing the kitchen and adding a small mudroom & laundry room in the ’90s. Unfortunately, as happens all too often, it had been done in a way that was architecturally inappropriate style of the home. We worked within the available footprint to create “layers of implied time,” reinstating stylistic integrity and un-muddling the mistakes of more recent renovations.

Back yard replanting to correct mistakes by an inferior contractor including drainage and replacing dead and inappropriate plant material. Photo Credits Dave White

Scott Buley, HTT&T, High Tech Turf & Trees. Another photo of boulders as the soil solution we applied to this rock started moss growing. This extremely steep Historic site slopes down to the City sidewalks. For the purposes of Historic Preservation....using these stones that we excavated out of the ground on the site were a perfect selection and fit to act as an attractive "aged" retainer. Anything else could have been inappropriate.

A MODERN MISSION The challenge in this Ottawa South home was to update a turn-of-the-century home’s kitchen, preserving the Arts and Craft styling while providing the modern conveniences required by today’s lifestyles. The classic lines and warm colours combine to create a functional and inviting space. The upper cabinets do double duty, offering long-term storage space as well as providing extra lighting. A salvaged antique door with sandblasted glass replaced an inappropriate modern door. A custom cherry heat grill was crafted and stained to match for the stool side of the peninsula. With careful attention to detail, the painted and damaged mouldings in the dining & kitchen area were replaced with new ones that were finished with stain & amber shellac to help them blend seamlessly with the old ones. Mission accomplished.

This former Inn and Tavern near Port Hope needed a complete restoration after we removed the inappropriate 1960 makeover. We stripped it down to its post and beam frame and started over, using the remaining architectural artifacts to guide us.

A MODERN MISSION The challenge in this Ottawa South home was to update a turn-of-the-century home’s kitchen, preserving the Arts and Craft styling while providing the modern conveniences required by today’s lifestyles. The classic lines and warm colours combine to create a functional and inviting space. The upper cabinets do double duty, offering long-term storage space as well as providing extra lighting. A salvaged antique door with sandblasted glass replaced an inappropriate modern door. A custom cherry heat grill was crafted and stained to match for the stool side of the peninsula. With careful attention to detail, the painted and damaged mouldings in the dining & kitchen area were replaced with new ones that were finished with stain & amber shellac to help them blend seamlessly with the old ones. Mission accomplished.

Inappropriate flowmeter installation can exasperate this profile and debase measurement exactness.see more:- http://pressurecalibrator.blogspot.in/2016/10/piping-requirements-for-flow-meter.html

A MODERN MISSION The challenge in this Ottawa South home was to update a turn-of-the-century home’s kitchen, preserving the Arts and Craft styling while providing the modern conveniences required by today’s lifestyles. The classic lines and warm colours combine to create a functional and inviting space. The upper cabinets do double duty, offering long-term storage space as well as providing extra lighting. A salvaged antique door with sandblasted glass replaced an inappropriate modern door. A custom cherry heat grill was crafted and stained to match for the stool side of the peninsula. With careful attention to detail, the painted and damaged mouldings in the dining & kitchen area were replaced with new ones that were finished with stain & amber shellac to help them blend seamlessly with the old ones. Mission accomplished.

A MODERN MISSION The challenge in this Ottawa South home was to update a turn-of-the-century home’s kitchen, preserving the Arts and Craft styling while providing the modern conveniences required by today’s lifestyles. The classic lines and warm colours combine to create a functional and inviting space. The upper cabinets do double duty, offering long-term storage space as well as providing extra lighting. A salvaged antique door with sandblasted glass replaced an inappropriate modern door. A custom cherry heat grill was crafted and stained to match for the stool side of the peninsula. With careful attention to detail, the painted and damaged mouldings in the dining & kitchen area were replaced with new ones that were finished with stain & amber shellac to help them blend seamlessly with the old ones. Mission accomplished.

A MODERN MISSION The challenge in this Ottawa South home was to update a turn-of-the-century home’s kitchen, preserving the Arts and Craft styling while providing the modern conveniences required by today’s lifestyles. The classic lines and warm colours combine to create a functional and inviting space. The upper cabinets do double duty, offering long-term storage space as well as providing extra lighting. A salvaged antique door with sandblasted glass replaced an inappropriate modern door. A custom cherry heat grill was crafted and stained to match for the stool side of the peninsula. With careful attention to detail, the painted and damaged mouldings in the dining & kitchen area were replaced with new ones that were finished with stain & amber shellac to help them blend seamlessly with the old ones. Mission accomplished.