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 It was dark, outdated and inefficient.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.

The homeowner's existing pink L-shaped sofa got a pick-me-up with an assortment of velvet, sheepskin & silk throw pillows to create a lived-in Global style vibe. Photo by Claire Esparros.

The owners of this kitchen had spent the money to upgrade the finishes in their kitchen upon building the home 12 years ago, but after living in the space for several years they realized how nonfunctional the layout really was. The (then) two preschool aged children had grown into busy, hungry teenagers with many friends who also liked to hang out at the house. So the family needed a more functional kitchen with better traffic flow, space for daily activities revolving around the kitchen at different times of day, and a kitchen that could accommodate cooking for and serving large groups. Furthermore, the dark, traditional finishes no longer reflected the homeowners’ style. They requested a brighter, more relaxed, coastal style that reflected their love of the seaside cities they like to visit. Originally, the kitchen was U-shaped with a narrow island in the middle. The island created narrow aisles that bottle-necked at the dishwasher, refrigerator, and cooktop areas. There was a pass-through from the foyer into the kitchen, but the owners never liked that the pass-through was also located so close to the powder room. The awkward proximity was unappealing and made guests feel uncomfortable. The kitchen’s storage was made up of lots of narrow cabinets, apothecary drawers, clipped corner units, and very few drawers. It lacked useful storage for the larger items the family used on a daily basis. And the kitchen’s only pantry was small closet that had only builder-grade, narrow shelving with no illumination to be able to see the contents inside. Overall, the kitchen’s lighting plan was poorly executed. Only six recessed cans illuminated the entire kitchen and nook areas. The under cabinet lighting was not evenly distributed either. In fact, the builder had mis-placed the under cabinet lighting around the decorative pilasters which made for choppy, dark cubbies. Further, the builder didn’t include any lighting over the sink or the bar area, which meant whoever was doing the dishes was always in their own shadow. That, coupled with the steep overhang of the game room above made the bar area feel like a dim, cavernous space that wasn’t inviting or task oriented. The kitchen looked out into the main living space, but the raised bar and a narrow wall (which held the only large cabinet in the kitchen) created more of a barrier than a relationship to the living room or breakfast nook. In fact, one couldn’t even see the breakfast nook from the cooktop or sink areas due to its orientation. The raised bar top was too narrow to comfortably sit to either dine at or chat from due to the lack of knee space. The the homeowners confided that the kitchen felt more like a dark, dirty prison than place where the family, or their guests, wanted to gather and commune. The clients' needs and desires were: ➢ to create a kitchen that would be a space the family loved to be in; to relate to the adjacent spaces all around, and to have better flow for entertaining large groups ➢ to remove the walls between the breakfast nook and living area and to be able to utilize the natural light from the windows in both those areas ➢ to incorporate a functional chopping block for prepping fresh food for home cooked meals, an island with a large sink and drain board, 2 pull out trash cans, and seating for at least the 2 teens to eat or do homework ➢ to design a kitchen and breakfast nook with an airy, coastal, relaxed vibe that blended with the rest of the house's coastal theme ➢ to integrate a layered lighting plan which would include ample general illumination, specific task lighting, decorative lighting, and lots of illuminated storage ➢ to design a kitchen with not only more storage for all the husband’s kitchen gadgets and collection of oils and spices, but smart storage, including a coffee/breakfast bar and a place to store and conceal the toaster oven and microwave ➢ to find a way to utilize the large open space between the kitchen, pantry area, and breakfast nook Twelve Stones Designs achieved the owner's goals by: ➢ removing the walls between the kitchen and living room to allow the natural light to filter in from the adjacent rooms and to create a connection between the kitchen, nook, and living spaces for a sense of unity and communion ➢ removing the existing pantry and designing 3 large pantry style cabinets with LED tape lights and rollout drawers to house lots of kitchen appliances, gadgets, and tons of groceries. We also took the cabinets all the way up to the 9’ ceiling for additional storage for seasonal items and bulk storage. ➢ designing 2 islands - 1 with a gorgeous black walnut chopping block that houses a drawer for chopping and carving knives and a custom double pull out trash unit for point of use utilization - and 1 that houses the dishwasher, a large Blanco Gourmet sink with integrated drain board, woven baskets for fresh root vegetables and kitchen towels, plenty of drawer storage for kitchen items, and bar seating for up to 4 diners. ➢ closing off the space between the kitchen and the powder room to create a beautiful new private alcove for the powder room as well as adding some decorative storage. This also gave us space to include more tall storage near the new range for precision placement of the husband’s extensive oil and spice collection as well as a location for a combo-steam oven the wife wanted for baking and cooking healthy meals. The project is enhanced functionally by: ➢ incorporated USB and standard receptacles for the kids’ laptops and phone charging in the large island ➢ designing the small island to include additional open shelving for items used on a daily basis such as a variety of bowls, plates, and colanders. This set up also works well for the husband who prefers to “plate” his dinners in restaurant-style fashion before presenting them to the table. ➢ the integration of specific storage units, such as double stacked cutlery drawers, a custom spice pull-out, a Kuerig coffee and tea pod drawer, and custom double stacked utensil drawers ➢ moving the refrigerator to the old oven location - this eliminated the bottle neck as well as created a better relationship to the eating table. It also utilizes the floor space between the pantry, nook, and kitchen ➢ creating a banquet style breakfast nook - this banquette seating not only doubles the amount of seating for large gatherings but it better utilizes the odd space between the kitchen and the previous nook area. It also helps to create a distinct pathway from the mudroom room through the pantry area, kitchen, nook, and living room. ➢ the coffee/breakfast bar area which includes the perfect location for the concealed microwave and toaster oven, convenient storage for the coffee pods and tea accoutrements. Roll-out drawers below also house the smoothie maker, hot water kettle, and a plethora of smoothie-making ingredients such as protein powders, smoothie additives, etc. Furthermore, the drawers below the Keurig house measuring utensil, cutlery, baking supplies and tupperware storage. ➢ incorporating lots of wide drawers and pullouts to accommodate large cookware. ➢ utilizing as much vertical space as possible by building storage to the ceiling which accommodates the family’s abundant amount of serving platters, baking sheets, bakeware, casserole dishes, and additional cutting boards. The project is enhanced aesthetically by: ➢ new 5-piece Versailles pattern porcelain tile that now seamlessly joins the entire down stairs area together creating a bright, cohesiveness feeling instead of choppy separated spaces - it also adds a coastal feeling ➢ designing a cabinet to conceal the microwave and toaster oven ➢ the coastal influenced light fixtures over the nook table and island ➢ the sandy colors of the Langdon Cambria countertops. The swirling pattern and sparkling quartz pieces remind the homeowner of black-and-tan sandy beaches ➢ the striped banquet seating whose creamy white background and blue-green stripes were the inspiration for the cabinet and wall colors. ➢ All the interior doors were painted black to coordinate with the blacks and grays in the backsplash tile and countertop. This also adds a hint of tailored formality to an otherwise casual space. ➢ the use of WAC's Oculux small aperture LED units for the overhead lighting complimented with Diode LED strips for task lighting under the cabinets and inside the pantry and glass wall cabinets. All of the lighting applications are on separate dimmer switches. Innovative uses of materials or construction methods by Realty Restoration LLC: ➢ Each 1-1/2” x 3” block of reclaimed end-grain black walnut that makes up the center island chopping block was hand milled and built in the shop. It was designed to look substantial and proportional to the surrounding elements, executed by creating the 4 inch tall top with a solid wood chamfered edge band. ➢ The metal doors on either side of the vent hood were also custom designed for this project and built in the Realty Restoration LLC shop. They are made 1x2, 11-gauge mild steel with ribbed glass. Weighing 60 lbs a piece, heavy duty cabinet hinges were added to support the weight of the door and keep them from sagging. ➢ Under-cabinet receptacles were added along the range wall in order to have a clean, uninterrupted backsplash. Design obstacles to overcome: ➢ Because we were removing the demising walls between the kitchen and living room, we had to find a way to plumb and vent the new island. We did this by tunneling through the slab (the slab had post tension cables which prevented us from just trenching) to run a new wet vent through a nearby structural wall. We pulled the existing hot and cold lines between upper floor joists and ran them down the structural wall as well and up through a conduit in the tunnel. ➢ Since we were converting from wall overs to a gas range it allowed us to utilize the 220 feed for the wall ovens to provide a new sub panel for all the new kitchen circuits ➢ Due to framing deficiencies inherited from the original build there was a 1-1/2” differential in the floor-to-ceiling height over a 20 foot span; by utilizing the process of cutting and furring coupled with the crown moulding details on the cabinet elevations we were able to mask the problem and provide seamless transitions between the cabinet components. Evidence of superior craftsmanship: ➢ uniquely designed, one-of-a-kind metal “X” end panels on the large island. The end panels were custom made in the Realty Restoration LLC shop and fitted to the exact dimensions of the island. The welding seams are completely indistinguishable - the posts look like they are cut from a single sheet of metal ➢ square metal posts on the small island were also custom made and designed to compliment and carry through the metal element s throughout the kitchen ➢ the beautiful, oversized end panels on the pantry cabinets which give the breakfast nook a tailored look ➢ integrating a large format 5 piece Versailles tile pattern to seamlessly flow from the existing spaces into the new kitchen space ➢ By constructing a custom cabinet that jogged around a corner we could not remodel (housing the entry way coat closet) we were able to camouflage the adjacent wall offset within the upper and lower cabinets. By designing around the existing jog in the structural walls we accomplished a few things: we were able to find the space to house, and hide, the microwave and toaster oven yet still have a clean cohesive appearance from the kitchen side. Additionally, the owners were able to keep their much needed coat closet and we didn’t have to increase the budget with unnecessary structural work.

A 43” diameter heritage pecan guided the plan of this neighborhood-scaled, modestly-priced, single-story, L-shaped house. In Austin’s seemingly perpetual drought, the goal was to create a symbiotic relationship between house and tree: to complement, not combat each other. The roof’s east/west parallel ridges create a valley directly across from the base, where water is collected at a grate, nourishing the tree. The roof also maximizes south facing surfaces, elevated at 15 degrees for future solar collection. The open, public spaces of the home maximize the north-south light. The private zone of the bedrooms and bathrooms include a generous gallery; its angled walls and large sliding doors are faceted about the tree. The pecan becomes a central focus for indoor and outdoor living, participating in the house in both plan and section. The design welcomes and nurtures the tree as integral to its success. Photo Credit: Chris Diaz

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.

http://nationalkitchenandbath.com Designer: Kim Feld Great L-shape vanity for him and her to get ready in the morning, with plenty of storage for both.

Reservoir House is a custom home with 12-foot-high ceilings and overhangs specially designed to protect the house from direct sun during summer. The entire home enjoys spectacular views—even from all the bedrooms. As a central hub for the family, the L-shaped great room is designed to focus on the views, and sits under Douglas-fir laminated beams. The main level includes a full suite for future single-level living or for guests to use, a den for movie nights, and a screened porch that sits just off the dining room, with direct access to the pool patio. With relaxation and retreat being the main driving factors of this project, the upper floor features a generous master suite with a roof deck for taking in views from an even more private setting.

This project converted a builder design with entry level finishes into an elegant, "L Shaped", entertaining space that fit the needs of an active family. Off white Omega painted cabinets with a timeless recessed panel door design set the tone for a transitional setting. Lennon granite was used to partner the cabinets with the grey tones in the large format tile splash and the warmth of the oak flooring. A window was removed from the cooking wall to simplify the space and organize the work triangle in a way that guests would know where to sit and multiple cooks could operate without a congested setting. The sink was placed on the large island to allow the cook to be able to engage with the family room and whoever sits at the stools. Products include Thermador / Viking / Wolf appliances, Omega Dynasty Lorring - Magnolia Cabinets, Amerock hardware, and American Hardwood Flooring - red oak flooring.

Lack of symmetry in this angled, open floor plan kitchen was the key challenge. The L-shaped island, which I lined up with two of the walls, resolved the issue. The renewable Red Grandis Wood cabinets (eucalyptus) are finished in weathered gray along the perimeter and creamy white on the island. I provided layers of lighting, including the oversized drum chandelier above the table, which is enclosed on the bottom so that the bulbs are not visible. I also chose a branch chandlier above the island workspace and recessed can lights on the ceiling for whole-room illumination. Photo by Brian Gassel

[ Houzz Furniture - Bestier.net ] Dimensions: L-shaped desk: 59'' × 59'' × 29.7'' Long desk: 94.5'' × 23.6‘’ × 29.7‘’ Simple and stylish. Our 59 inch large l shaped desk with storage for two people comes in two styles depending on your needs. If you prefer working individually, this table can make a great workspace for you when using it as an "L" shape desk. If you like to sit with your friend side by side, you can reversible the desk to a long straight desk, so that you can work and play more flexibly.

Features: Upholstered in luxurious white leather Ample padding and adjustable armrests provide maximum comfort Tufted seats give the sectional a highly detailed look Stainless steel legs offer remarkable stability Sturdy construction ensures long-lasting use High quality leather match material in the back maintains durability Perfect for modern living rooms Sectional includes sofa and chaise Dimensions: Overall: 116"W x 41"-67"D x 35"H Sofa: 75"W x 41"D x 35"H Chaise: 41"W x 67"D x 35"H

Pool - contemporary backyard concrete and l-shaped lap pool idea in Tampa

Werner Straube
Transitional formal and open concept dark wood floor living room photo in Chicago with gray walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Klopf Architecture, Arterra Landscape Architects and Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Designed and built a new warm, modern, Eichler-inspired, open, indoor-outdoor home on a deeper-than-usual San Mateo Highlands property where an original Eichler house had burned to the ground. The owners wanted multi-generational living and larger spaces than the original home offered, but all parties agreed that the house should respect the neighborhood and blend in stylistically with the other Eichlers. At first the Klopf team considered re-using what little was left of the original home and expanding on it. But after discussions with the owner and builder, all parties agreed that the last few remaining elements of the house were not practical to re-use, so Klopf Architecture designed a new home that pushes the Eichler approach in new directions. One disadvantage of Eichler production homes is that the house designs were not optimized for each specific lot. A new custom home offered the team a chance to start over. In this case, a longer house that opens up sideways to the south fit the lot better than the original square-ish house that used to open to the rear (west). Accordingly, the Klopf team designed an L-shaped “bar” house with a large glass wall with large sliding glass doors that faces sideways instead of to the rear like a typical Eichler. This glass wall opens to a pool and landscaped yard designed by Arterra Landscape Architects. Driving by the house, one might assume at first glance it is an Eichler because of the horizontality, the overhanging flat roof eaves, the dark gray vertical siding, and orange solid panel front door, but the house is designed for the 21st Century and is not meant to be a “Likeler.” You won't see any posts and beams in this home. Instead, the ceiling decking is a western red cedar that covers over all the beams. Like Eichlers, this cedar runs continuously from inside to out, enhancing the indoor / outdoor feeling of the house, but unlike Eichlers it conceals a cavity for lighting, wiring, and insulation. Ceilings are higher, rooms are larger and more open, the master bathroom is light-filled and more generous, with a separate tub and shower and a separate toilet compartment, and there is plenty of storage. The garage even easily fits two of today's vehicles with room to spare. A massive 49-foot by 12-foot wall of glass and the continuity of materials from inside to outside enhance the inside-outside living concept, so the owners and their guests can flow freely from house to pool deck to BBQ to pool and back. During construction in the rough framing stage, Klopf thought the front of the house appeared too tall even though the house had looked right in the design renderings (probably because the house is uphill from the street). So Klopf Architecture paid the framer to change the roofline from how we had designed it to be lower along the front, allowing the home to blend in better with the neighborhood. One project goal was for people driving up the street to pass the home without immediately noticing there is an "imposter" on this lot, and making that change was essential to achieve that goal. This 2,606 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bathroom Eichler-inspired new house is located in San Mateo in the heart of the Silicon Valley. Klopf Architecture Project Team: John Klopf, AIA, Klara Kevane Landscape Architect: Arterra Landscape Architects Contractor: Henry Calvert of Calvert Ventures Photography ©2016 Mariko Reed Location: San Mateo, CA Year completed: 2016

Moderately scaled upholstery collection that features a sock arm, semi-attached box back, welt less seat cushion and tapered legs available in a choice of finishes.

Joan Dyer
Example of a trendy l-shaped open concept kitchen design in Austin with recessed-panel cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Inspiration for a large transitional open concept medium tone wood floor family room remodel in DC Metro with gray walls, a standard fireplace, a stone fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Where to start describing this amazing open kitchen! A large white granite island and farm sink compliment dark wood cabinets and stainless appliances - including a large gas cook top and built-in oven/microwave combo. The open plan connects directly to the Great Room and Dining Room so the chef in the home can stay connected with family and visitors while preparing a large meal. Under cabinet lighting and unique pendants provide warmth to the space, which is topped off, quite literally, with a faux painted barrel vault ceiling that has its own hidden cove lighting.

[ Houzz Furniture - Bestier.net ] You'll love this 2 person l shaped desk with an adjustable shelf home office ideas. This 95.2 inch long straight desk has a spacious desktop with a storage bookshelf and offers a Large Roomy Workspace & Legroom. The adjustable shelf can help you sort your document better and put a computer tower. Play or work side by side with your friends on this desk! Environmental & Durable material Thick wood and sturdy metal X-frame and wide steel tube with a high load-bearing capacity design make the computer desk sturdy and stable and can use for a long time. Spacious work desktop & legroom Bestier long straight computer desk offers plenty of room to place monitors, printers, laptops, files, or other essential accessories. Effectively take advantage of your room even if in a small space. Highlights: 3 ways to assemble - L shaped desk, long desk or U shaped desk Adjustable shelves & Spacious desktop & Wire management High quality P2 partical board + sturdy metal frame Special wood line design to be different from other brands 7 color for your choice Dimension: 59.4''W x 59.4''D x 29.1''H Weight: 72.8lbs