This 1,800 sq ft all-season cottage is designed to make the most of its breathtaking south-facing view of the Ottawa River. Every aspect of the cottage was carefully considered to optimize the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring the water views are an integral part of daily life. At the heart of the cottage is the expansive open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area, featuring a striking stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings. An abundance of windows along the river-facing side allows natural light to flood the space while offering uninterrupted views of the water. Strategic design elements, including retractable canopies, provide shade during hot summer months while allowing for increased sunlight during the winter to enhance the warmth and comfort of the interiors. Perfect for entertaining, the spacious sunroom serves as a flexible space for both intimate gatherings and larger groups. It includes a second stone fireplace and ample room for dining and lounging, with seamless access to the outdoor deck. For sun lovers, the deck provides the perfect spot to bask in the warmth, while the canopy offers a shady retreat to enjoy the river views during hot days. A cozy firepit patio closer to the water creates an inviting space for evening gatherings, complete with the charm of a crackling fire and views of the river. Off the sunroom, a screened porch offers a shaded escape, providing relief from the heat and bugs during the summer afternoons. This porch is conveniently located next to the BBQ area, allowing for easy outdoor cooking and socializing. The primary bedroom suite includes a bedroom partition wall that allows the bed to face the river while providing unimpeded access to the walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. The main level also includes a butler’s pantry, office, full bathroom, and a second bedroom ideal for family. The lower level expands the living space further, offering four additional guest bedrooms, a bunk room for the kids, ample storage, a laundry room, and a versatile games room. With thoughtful design and functional spaces, this cottage balances comfort, style, and connection to nature.

Another beautiful Bungalow kitchen remodel in the Northrop neighborhood of South Minneapolis. These homeowners contacted Castle planning for a whole kitchen renovation, which included opening the existing kitchen into the dining room so the family could enjoy a more multi-purpose space. The original (1927) built-in buffet cabinet between the kitchen and dining was re-homed to a vintage salvage room in Minneapolis for a new future life. The homeowners did not want a boring kitchen. We also focused on matching the original style/feel of the home but rejuvenated. A fresh traditional kitchen design was planned to provide better function for the family’s needs and also a beautiful style to the heart of their home. New hardwood floors carry into the kitchen to match the existing hardwoods. New custom-built flush-inset cabinetry was designed with a wonderful two-tone color scheme. The new cabinetry includes custom storage, glass uppers and accessories; silverware tray divides, trash pull-out, outlet docking drawer for phones to charge, custom shelf roll-outs and lazy susan corners. Castle selected historic paint colors by Benjamin Moore to keep within the period of the home. The base cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore, Tarrytown green and the uppers in a soft white (BM, Ballet white). By doing two cabinetry colors, Castle was able to create some unique interest and anchor the base cabinet to the floor while still having light walls with the white cabinetry. New marble patterned Cambria Quartz countertops were selected in the luxurious and classic Torquay design. To complete the walls, traditional white subway tile was installed. Along with the beautiful finishes, we also improved light quality in the space. New windows were installed increasing from 2 windows to 3 windows with an additional window to the backyard. We also installed 2 Solatubes for additional natural lighting. The Solatubes also include a solar-powered night light and additional light kit for night time use. Overall, the new traditional kitchen is much like a spring day – light, airy and inviting! Come see the space on Castle’s Educational Home Tour, Fall 2018!

Creating a Dream Kitchen: Where Beauty Meets Functionality
The kitchen is the heart of every modern home. Today, kitchen design goes beyond just cabinet layouts and color schemes—it’s about optimizing space and ensuring high-performance functionality. One often overlooked yet crucial element is a well-designed plumbing system, which can dramatically enhance both the aesthetics and efficiency of your space.
Hidden Plumbing: The Secret to Sleek, Modern Designs
Leading interior designers in Phoenix, Arizona, emphasize that a professional plumbing system can make a significant difference in a kitchen’s final look. Companies like APS Plumbing, with their expertise in concealed plumbing installations, help architects and homeowners achieve that flawless, minimalist design.
5 Key Plumbing Tips for an Efficient Kitchen:
Smart Placement – Strategically position faucets and drainage points to enhance both aesthetics and daily usability.
High-Quality Materials – Invest in durable pipes and fittings to minimize frequent repairs.
Professional Insulation – Prevent energy loss and reduce unwanted noise with proper pipe insulation.
Easy Access – Design the system so future repairs don’t require extensive demolition.
Appliance Compatibility – Ensure plumbing aligns with modern appliances like side-by-side refrigerators and advanced dishwashers.
Choosing the Right Professional
As seen in high-end design projects, working with experienced plumbing teams like APS Plumbing—who understand modern design needs—can prevent costly future issues. Their free pre-installation consultations help homeowners and designers choose the best solutions for combining beauty and functionality.
Final Thoughts
A truly modern kitchen achieves perfection by paying attention to every technical detail. Investing in a professional plumbing system not only increases your home’s value but also enhances everyday cooking and living experiences. For your next project, consult experts who combine technical knowledge with a strong sense of aesthetics.

This Arts and Crafts century home in the heart of Toronto needed brightening and a few structural changes. The client wanted a powder room on the main floor where none existed, a larger coat closet, to increase the opening from her kitchen into her dining room and to completely renovate her kitchen. Along with several other updates, this house came together in such an amazing way. The home is bright and happy, the kitchen is functional with a build-in dinette, and a long island. The renovated dining area is home to stunning built-in cabinetry to showcase the client's pretty collectibles, the light fixtures are works of art and the powder room in a jewel in the center of the home. The unique finishes, including the powder room wallpaper, the antique crystal door knobs, a picket backsplash and unique colours come together with respect to the home's original architecture and style, and an updated look that works for today's modern homeowner. Custom chairs, velvet barstools and freshly painted spaces bring additional moments of well thought out design elements. Mostly, we love that the kitchen, although it appears white, is really a very light gray green called Titanium, looking soft and warm in this new and updated space.

The original kitchen island was undersized, offering seating for only two and limiting both workspace and entertaining potential. By thoughtfully repositioning the adjacent breakfast area, the renovation created room to significantly enlarge the island, allowing comfortable seating for three while preserving generous traffic flow throughout the kitchen. The expanded island now serves as the functional heart of the home, providing ample space for meal preparation, casual dining, and gathering with family and friends. To further enhance both storage and entertaining, the wall cabinetry was extended to seamlessly incorporate a dedicated beverage refrigerator and a custom glass-front stemware cabinet. These integrated features create a sophisticated beverage station while keeping crystal stemware beautifully displayed, organized, and conveniently accessible for everyday enjoyment and gracious entertaining. A custom upholstered dining bench transformed the breakfast nook into one of the most inviting spaces in the home. By maximizing seating without increasing the room's footprint, the banquette offers exceptional comfort for everyday meals, morning coffee, and relaxed family gatherings. It has quickly become the homeowner's favorite place to sit, demonstrating how thoughtful furniture selection can elevate both function and comfort. The sliding glass doors leading to the outdoor living area were finished with softly textured sheer drapery in a tone that harmonizes with the wall color. These elegant window treatments gently diffuse intense natural sunlight while preserving outdoor views, adding softness, warmth, and visual texture to the kitchen. The sheers enhance the bright, airy atmosphere while contributing to the refined, layered aesthetic that defines this luxury kitchen renovation.

Project: Kitsilano House Builder: Grenor Homes About this Project When our clients asked us to design their new house in the heart of Kitsilano, they wanted a space that showcased their personalities, travels, and experiences. Naturally, our team was instantly excited and eager to make this house a home. Layout: Prior to the renovation, the family room was adjacent to the kitchen and the formal living room at the other end of the space; in the middle was the dinning area. We looked at the main floor as an entire space and decided to combine the two living spaces into one and move the dining area towards the kitchen. The Kitchen: had always been an L shape with an island; previously there was a kitchen table by the windows. In the space planning period, we decided to eliminate the kitchen table to increase the overall size of the kitchen, giving us a bigger island for casual eating. The perimeter of the kitchen has many great features; a coffee nook, a freezer column, double ovens, a cooktop with drawers below, an appliance garage in the awkward corner, a pantry with ample storage and free-standing fridge. The Island also has many key features; a built-in unit for garbage/recycling/compost, a slide out tray underneath the sink for easy access to cleaning products, a dishwasher, and a bank of four drawer. On the outside of the island is an open shelf for cookbooks and display items. Below the countertop overhang is additional hidden storage for the items not accessed frequently. Dinning Area: we utilized the pre-existing niche by incorporating floating shelves in an asymmetrical design, which became the perfect area for the clients to display the art collected during their travels. Bar Area: The space between the kitchen and powder room became the perfect place to add a bar. Storage, counter space, and 2 bar fridges brought this little entertaining area to life. Fireplace: Using existing fireplace unit we cladded the surround with Dekton material, paneled the wall above with Walnut and a mantel made from Quarkus. These materials repeat them selves through the entire space.

Price:$5000 to $30,000+ Kitchen remodeling is the process of transforming your kitchen into a more functional, stylish, and efficient space. It can involve upgrading countertops, cabinets, flooring, lighting, and appliances to improve both aesthetics and usability. A well-planned kitchen remodel not only enhances the heart of your home but also increases property value, making it a smart investment. Whether it’s creating an open-concept layout, adding modern storage solutions, or updating finishes to match your style, kitchen remodeling brings comfort, convenience, and beauty together in one of the most important areas of your home.

Both the design and construction teams put their heart into making sure we worked with the client to achieve this gorgeous vision. The client was sensitive to both aesthetic and functionality goals, so we set out to improve their old, dated cramped kitchen, with an open concept that facilitates cooking workflow, and dazzles the eye with its mid century modern design. One of their biggest items was their need for increased storage space. We certainly achieved that with ample cabinet space and doubling their pantry space. The 13 foot waterfall island is the centerpiece, which is heavily utilized for cooking, eating, playing board games and hanging out. The pantry behind the walnut doors used to be the fridge space, and there's an extra pantry now to the left of the current fridge. We moved the sink from the counter to the island, which really helped workflow (we created triangle between cooktop, sink and fridge/pantry 2). To make the cabinets flow linearly at the top we moved and replaced the window. The beige paint is called alpaca from Sherwin Williams and the blue is charcoal blue from sw. Everything was carefully selected, from the horizontal grain on the walnut cabinets, to the subtly veined white quartz from Arizona tile, to the black glass paneled luxury hood from Futuro Futuro. The pendants and chandelier are from West Elm. The flooring is from karastan; a gorgeous engineered, white oak in herringbone pattern. The recessed lights are decorative from Lumens. The pulls are antique brass from plank hardware (in London). We sourced the door handles and cooktop (Empava) from Houzz. The faucet is Rohl and the sink is Bianco.

Project: Kitsilano House Builder: Grenor Homes About this Project When our clients asked us to design their new house in the heart of Kitsilano, they wanted a space that showcased their personalities, travels, and experiences. Naturally, our team was instantly excited and eager to make this house a home. Layout: Prior to the renovation, the family room was adjacent to the kitchen and the formal living room at the other end of the space; in the middle was the dinning area. We looked at the main floor as an entire space and decided to combine the two living spaces into one and move the dining area towards the kitchen. The Kitchen: had always been an L shape with an island; previously there was a kitchen table by the windows. In the space planning period, we decided to eliminate the kitchen table to increase the overall size of the kitchen, giving us a bigger island for casual eating. The perimeter of the kitchen has many great features; a coffee nook, a freezer column, double ovens, a cooktop with drawers below, an appliance garage in the awkward corner, a pantry with ample storage and free-standing fridge. The Island also has many key features; a built-in unit for garbage/recycling/compost, a slide out tray underneath the sink for easy access to cleaning products, a dishwasher, and a bank of four drawer. On the outside of the island is an open shelf for cookbooks and display items. Below the countertop overhang is additional hidden storage for the items not accessed frequently. Dinning Area: we utilized the pre-existing niche by incorporating floating shelves in an asymmetrical design, which became the perfect area for the clients to display the art collected during their travels. Bar Area: The space between the kitchen and powder room became the perfect place to add a bar. Storage, counter space, and 2 bar fridges brought this little entertaining area to life. Fireplace: Using existing fireplace unit we cladded the surround with Dekton material, paneled the wall above with Walnut and a mantel made from Quarkus. These materials repeat them selves through the entire space.

This home is located in the in the heart of Northcenter and situated on an oversized lot with a tremendous view of a landscaped backyard garden. The client’s desire was to open the back kitchen wall to take advantage of the garden view and to incorporate the kitchen into the rest of the home. By adding a 3’-0” deep addition at the sink wall and increasing the overall size of the windows, Vesta was able to expand the views and to open the floor plan to create a functional island. The island in turn, added space for food prep & prep sink along with casual seating. By removing the adjoining Dining Room wall, Vesta created an open floor plan that enhanced the Owners everyday living experiences. The new Dining Buffet added storageand a visual break while maintaining the open feel. By using warm horizontal walnut tones, it allowed a reference back to the original mid-century feel of the décor of the home. Adding playful highlights of apple green, we took advantage of a palette that brought the natural outside elements back into the environment.

This modern apartment renovation project, completed by Santech Construction, focused on upgrading existing units to meet contemporary living standards. The work included updated layouts, high-quality finishes, and improved functionality throughout each unit. Modern materials and fixtures were selected to enhance the aesthetic appeal, energy efficiency, and overall comfort of the living spaces. The renovation was designed to increase long-term property value while offering residents a fresh, modern environment in the heart of Philadelphia. You can read more about our previous renovation projects on our website - https://santechconstruction.com/residential/

This Arts and Crafts century home in the heart of Toronto needed brightening and a few structural changes. The client wanted a powder room on the main floor where none existed, a larger coat closet, to increase the opening from her kitchen into her dining room and to completely renovate her kitchen. Along with several other updates, this house came together in such an amazing way. The home is bright and happy, the kitchen is functional with a build-in dinette, and a long island. The renovated dining area is home to stunning built-in cabinetry to showcase the client's pretty collectibles, the light fixtures are works of art and the powder room in a jewel in the center of the home. The unique finishes, including the powder room wallpaper, the antique crystal door knobs, a picket backsplash and unique colours come together with respect to the home's original architecture and style, and an updated look that works for today's modern homeowner. Custom chairs, velvet barstools and freshly painted spaces bring additional moments of well thought out design elements. Mostly, we love that the kitchen, although it appears white, is really a very light gray green called Titanium, looking soft and warm in this new and updated space.

This Encinitas home was completely remodelled and included a substantial addon. The French COuntry kitchen, being the heart of the home, increased to twice the original size and featured luxurious appliances and finishes.. Wooden cabinets, with beautiful glass front wrap the kitchen, while the dramatic island was designed to stand as a piece of furniture and is home to a magnificent cooktop. The extra wide peninsula has room enough for ample seating. Beautiful lighting, magnificent travertine flooring and ample cabinet space makes this kitchen a center hub for years to come..

A classic Portland foursquare, lovingly owned by an active and lively family of four, had undergone some unfortunate previous renovations that were in desperate need of updating. A cramped kitchen layout, lacking countertop work space, non-functional appliance locations (the range was floating on it’s own!), cramped kitchen nook not large enough for eat-in space and therefor left underutilized, and a general lack of storage all needed to be addressed. To increase functional space, we enclosed a small back porch and re-built the adjacent nook, folding in the square footage to create an expansive kitchen footprint. We relocated the back door and added a back deck while creating space for a mud bench for littles to tuck away their gear! The enlarged kitchen now boasts a extensive natural light thanks to the addition of several windows. An easy work flow was created within the new kitchen layout featuring an in-island sink with range and hood flanked by matching windows. Custom cabinet accessories make storage a breeze and provide a space for all the necessities to be right at the homeowner’s fingertips. The eat-in kitchen space allows not only for lingering family chats, but homework and craft projects to be done while dinner simmers on the stove. This kitchen truly is the heart of this home! All of the updates were completed with the home’s original foursquare architecture in mind. with a focus on classic architectural molding styles, traditional window details, and clean-lined classic fixtures. Youthfulness and modernity are infused into the space with the contemporary handmade tile backsplash, rich and timeless green cabinets, and artistic wallpaper with a whimsical floral print and subtle European nod. The custom range in cream and brass is a stunning showstopper and a testament that even the most functional of elements in a kitchen can still be beautiful! Which one is the star of the show? How do we pick just one?!

With a location right in the heart of vibrant Madison New Jersey, this house has a prime location in a charming and desirable neighborhood. The new owners’ dream for a Shingle Style house more typical of the size and style of other houses in the neighborhood was challenged by the fact that the building coverage was already maxed for the property. Any increases would have to be done within the existing footprint. Studio 1200 was able to provide a more substantial and functional living experience for the family by adding one story and reconfiguring the first floor to create a better flow. A new kitchen and dining room were created and relocated to rear of the house, resulting in an easy egress to the private patio and backyard. A new mudroom, spare bedroom, powder room, office and covered porch completed the modern layout of the first floor, all within the same original footprint. The addition of a fireplace to the covered porch meant this space can be used practically year-round. The second floor also received an upgrade through redesign, introducing a special master suite with 2 separate walk-in closets as well as a bathroom with a dramatic soaking tub. Completing the second floor are three more bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a laundry room. Atop it all is an attic, providing storage space that was not in the original home’s design.

This Arts and Crafts century home in the heart of Toronto needed brightening and a few structural changes. The client wanted a powder room on the main floor where none existed, a larger coat closet, to increase the opening from her kitchen into her dining room and to completely renovate her kitchen. Along with several other updates, this house came together in such an amazing way. The home is bright and happy, the kitchen is functional with a build-in dinette, and a long island. The renovated dining area is home to stunning built-in cabinetry to showcase the client's pretty collectibles, the light fixtures are works of art and the powder room in a jewel in the center of the home. The unique finishes, including the powder room wallpaper, the antique crystal door knobs, a picket backsplash and unique colours come together with respect to the home's original architecture and style, and an updated look that works for today's modern homeowner. Custom chairs, velvet barstools and freshly painted spaces bring additional moments of well thought out design elements. Mostly, we love that the kitchen, although it appears white, is really a very light gray green called Titanium, looking soft and warm in this new and updated space.

This 1,800 sq ft all-season cottage is designed to make the most of its breathtaking south-facing view of the Ottawa River. Every aspect of the cottage was carefully considered to optimize the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, ensuring the water views are an integral part of daily life. At the heart of the cottage is the expansive open-concept kitchen, dining, and living area, featuring a striking stone fireplace and vaulted ceilings. An abundance of windows along the river-facing side allows natural light to flood the space while offering uninterrupted views of the water. Strategic design elements, including retractable canopies, provide shade during hot summer months while allowing for increased sunlight during the winter to enhance the warmth and comfort of the interiors. Perfect for entertaining, the spacious sunroom serves as a flexible space for both intimate gatherings and larger groups. It includes a second stone fireplace and ample room for dining and lounging, with seamless access to the outdoor deck. For sun lovers, the deck provides the perfect spot to bask in the warmth, while the canopy offers a shady retreat to enjoy the river views during hot days. A cozy firepit patio closer to the water creates an inviting space for evening gatherings, complete with the charm of a crackling fire and views of the river. Off the sunroom, a screened porch offers a shaded escape, providing relief from the heat and bugs during the summer afternoons. This porch is conveniently located next to the BBQ area, allowing for easy outdoor cooking and socializing. The primary bedroom suite includes a bedroom partition wall that allows the bed to face the river while providing unimpeded access to the walk-in closet and ensuite bathroom. The main level also includes a butler’s pantry, office, full bathroom, and a second bedroom ideal for family. The lower level expands the living space further, offering four additional guest bedrooms, a bunk room for the kids, ample storage, a laundry room, and a versatile games room. With thoughtful design and functional spaces, this cottage balances comfort, style, and connection to nature.

In an increasingly high-tech, cookie-cutter world, handmade objects are both rare and cherished. Contour’s unique, one-of-a-kind handmade pieces celebrate old world craft, artisanal charm and time-honored techniques. Fill your space with heart and soul. Here is recycling at its best- from our local partner in Malawi. Glass bottles from surrounding lodges and villages are collected, broken into pieces and tumbled in a homemade glass-tumbler. This newly smooth glass is further hand-wrapped in copper or steel wire and attached to in-house welded frames, creating distinctive chandeliers, pendants, wall lights and lampshades. Each tumbled glass product can be made with a combination of white, aqua, green and brown glass. As each light is a unique piece, please let us know color and size preference. These lights come without electrical components or ceiling hooks. Chandeliers are delivered with either linked chain attachment or baobab string (let us know your preference). MATERIALS: Recycled tumbled glass, copper, steel wire DIMENSIONS: Small: 20" wide x 20" long Medium: 29.5" wide x 69" long Large: 39" wide x 90" long

A Well-Designed Kitchen Can Increase the Value of Your Home The quality and design of the kitchen you install in your home can have an impact on the re-sale value of your property. Investing in a high-quality and well-designed kitchen will not only make your life easier, but you can also expect to get a better price for your home should you wish to sell it in the future. In fact, a new kitchen is listed as one of the top renovations in terms of the ROI. No matter which part of the home you’re re-decorating, it’s crucial that you pay attention to good design principles. Creating a good design strategy is even more important in kitchen design. The kitchen is now the most important room in the home. In the past, kitchens were simply a place to prepare and eat food, but in modern times the kitchen is the heart of the family home. Our kitchens will often act as a social area, cooking area and a dining room as well as a general living space. This is why good design is so important when planning a kitchen.