Photo: Kimberley Bryan © 2016 Houzz
Example of an eclectic dining room design in Seattle

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

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 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

Transitional home office photo in Bridgeport

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

This 2-story home includes a 3- car garage with mudroom entry, an inviting front porch with decorative posts, and a screened-in porch. The home features an open floor plan with 10’ ceilings on the 1st floor and impressive detailing throughout. A dramatic 2-story ceiling creates a grand first impression in the foyer, where hardwood flooring extends into the adjacent formal dining room elegant coffered ceiling accented by craftsman style wainscoting and chair rail. Just beyond the Foyer, the great room with a 2-story ceiling, the kitchen, breakfast area, and hearth room share an open plan. The spacious kitchen includes that opens to the breakfast area, quartz countertops with tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances, attractive cabinetry with crown molding, and a corner pantry. The connecting hearth room is a cozy retreat that includes a gas fireplace with stone surround and shiplap. The floor plan also includes a study with French doors and a convenient bonus room for additional flexible living space. The first-floor owner’s suite boasts an expansive closet, and a private bathroom with a shower, freestanding tub, and double bowl vanity. On the 2nd floor is a versatile loft area overlooking the great room, 2 full baths, and 3 bedrooms with spacious closets.

THE SETUP Client Background: Our clients, a couple who have transitioned into the empty nest phase, have cherished their home for over three decades without undergoing any significant renovations. With a newfound desire to adapt their living space to better suit their current lifestyle, they’ve embarked on a journey to reimagine their kitchen — the heart of their home. Their aspiration is to cultivate a serene, neutral-toned sanctuary on the first floor that seamlessly merges with their family room, ensuring a harmonious and inviting environment. Design Inspiration: The renovation is inspired by the couple’s penchant for soft, calming neutrals, using their cherished family room and the kitchen’s existing tile flooring as the cornerstone for the color scheme. This approach aims to foster a sense of warmth and tranquility throughout. Design Objectives: Harmonize the kitchen with the family room by adopting a soothing, neutral color scheme, ensuring a seamless flow across the first floor. Enhance kitchen functionality with thoughtfully designed cabinetry, providing a designated place for every item and maximizing storage efficiency. Cultivate an inviting and comfortable atmosphere that reflects the homeowners’ desire for a calm and relaxing space. Design Challenges: The homeowners wish to retain the existing kitchen tile flooring and integrate it into a refreshed, modern design. Accommodating a dining area spacious enough for family visits without compromising the kitchen’s open feel or functional layout. Despite liking the current placement of plumbing and appliances, the homeowners aspire for a more open floor plan to facilitate better movement and interaction. The need to amplify natural light in the kitchen, especially around the sink area, where existing lighting is insufficient. Preserving the half-wall between the kitchen and family room, a feature the homeowners want to keep, while ensuring it complements the new design. THE RENEWED SPACE Design Solutions: By choosing a neutral color palette that complements the existing tile, the design unifies the kitchen with the adjacent spaces. The tile’s grout was cleaned and restored, enhancing the floor’s appearance and integrating it seamlessly with the new kitchen aesthetic. The inclusion of a larger island with seating for two, alongside maintaining a substantial dining table, was achieved by optimizing the spatial layout. This allowed for a sociable yet functional kitchen, accommodating large family gatherings without feeling crowded. Minor adjustments to the kitchen’s layout maintained the preferred locations for plumbing and appliances while introducing an ‘open’ design concept. Strategic modifications, such as angling the pantry wall, improved the flow and accessibility within the space. Replacing the garden window with a broader, standard window significantly increased natural light, transforming the sink area into a bright, welcoming space with enhanced views of the outdoors. The decision to keep the half-wall was ingeniously leveraged to define the dining area while maintaining an open connection to the family room. This feature not only serves as a visual separator but also ties the two spaces together through the shared color scheme and design elements. The homeowners are thrilled with their newly remodeled kitchen, which has become a hub of warmth and hospitality. Hosting a wedding shower and a birthday party, they have shared their renewed space with friends and family, who have been equally enamored. This remodel has not only met their functional and aesthetic desires but has also enriched their home with a fresh sense of serenity and joy. The upstairs part of the home is shaping up nicely. Here’s their newly remodeled primary bathroom.

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.

The hearthroom shares a double sided fireplace with the expansive kitchen. Lakeviews are incredible and can be admired all year round from the sunroom/hearthroom. It is cozy and casual without any fuss.

Builder: Falcon Custom Homes Interior Designer: Mary Burns - Gallery Photographer: Mike Buck A perfectly proportioned story and a half cottage, the Farfield is full of traditional details and charm. The front is composed of matching board and batten gables flanking a covered porch featuring square columns with pegged capitols. A tour of the rear façade reveals an asymmetrical elevation with a tall living room gable anchoring the right and a low retractable-screened porch to the left. Inside, the front foyer opens up to a wide staircase clad in horizontal boards for a more modern feel. To the left, and through a short hall, is a study with private access to the main levels public bathroom. Further back a corridor, framed on one side by the living rooms stone fireplace, connects the master suite to the rest of the house. Entrance to the living room can be gained through a pair of openings flanking the stone fireplace, or via the open concept kitchen/dining room. Neutral grey cabinets featuring a modern take on a recessed panel look, line the perimeter of the kitchen, framing the elongated kitchen island. Twelve leather wrapped chairs provide enough seating for a large family, or gathering of friends. Anchoring the rear of the main level is the screened in porch framed by square columns that match the style of those found at the front porch. Upstairs, there are a total of four separate sleeping chambers. The two bedrooms above the master suite share a bathroom, while the third bedroom to the rear features its own en suite. The fourth is a large bunkroom above the homes two-stall garage large enough to host an abundance of guests.