This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

Example of a transitional kitchen design in Austin

This contemporary kitchen features the NEW Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves from Dura Supreme Cabinetry. The Bria (frameless) cabinets in Dura Supreme's "White" and Wired-Foil cabinets in Dura Supreme's "Wired-Mercury" are a great combination of cabinetry for creating the clean sleek look of this modern two-tone kitchen design. Dura Supreme Cabinetry is excited to introduce NEW Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves for their Bria Cabinetry (Frameless / Full-Access product line). For a limited time, this new metal drawer system is available exclusively from Dura Supreme as they partnered with Blum to be the first American manufacturer to bring it to market. Dura Supreme’s Stainless Steel Drawers and Roll-Out Shelves are an attractive option for any kitchen design. Sleek, double-wall, stainless steel sides are only ½” thick and work with many of Dura Supreme’s wood drawer accessories, as well as the coordinating gray metal accessories designed specifically for Stainless Steel drawers. Concealed, undermount glides are integrated into the sides and are self-closing with a soft-close feature. Our new Stainless Steel drawer option provides a contemporary alternative to our classic Maple dovetailed drawer. For homeowners that favor Transitional or Contemporary styling, this sleek, high-performance drawer system will be ideal! Request a FREE Dura Supreme Brochure: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a Dura Supreme Showroom in your area: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator Want to become a Dura Supreme Dealer? Go to: http://www.durasupreme.com/new-dealer-inquiry To view a video and more info about this product go to: http://www.durasupreme.com/storage-solutions/stainless-steel-drawers-roll-outs

*Floorplan limited to De Young at Mira Bella community* Expansive elegance in 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms Bonus room 3 car garage with interior access to home Volumous 10 ft ceilings and 8 ft doors Covered back patio for outdoor living Large laundry room Formal dining room

*Floorplan limited to De Young at Mira Bella community* Expansive elegance in 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms Bonus room 3 car garage with interior access to home Volumous 10 ft ceilings and 8 ft doors Covered back patio for outdoor living Large laundry room Formal dining room

A stunning and stylish floor plan with numerous features throughout for everything you could desire in a home. A charming front porch leads you into this home where you immediately are greeted by the expansive great room with optional see-through fireplace into hearth area. The study with optional coffered ceiling could serve as 4th bedroom. The open kitchen, dining area, and hearth area allows for plenty of natural light. A secluded first-floor owner's suite with optional tray ceiling includes a private bath with double bowl vanity and expansive closet. The 2nd floor boasts 2 other bedrooms, a full bath, and a large loft. An optional outdoor living area, accessible from the dining area, is available as well. (Pricing may reflect limited-time savings/incentives. See Community Sales Manager for details.)

Goals While their home provided them with enough square footage, the original layout caused for many rooms to be underutilized. The closed off kitchen and dining room were disconnected from the other common spaces of the home causing problems with circulation and limited sight-lines. A tucked-away powder room was also inaccessible from the entryway and main living spaces in the house. Our Design Solution We sought out to improve the functionality of this home by opening up walls, relocating rooms, and connecting the entryway to the mudroom. By moving the kitchen into the formerly over-sized family room, it was able to really become the heart of the home with access from all of the other rooms in the house. Meanwhile, the adjacent family room was made into a cozy, comfortable space with updated fireplace and new cathedral style ceiling with skylights. The powder room was relocated to be off of the entry, making it more accessible for guests. A transitional style with rustic accents was used throughout the remodel for a cohesive first floor design. White and black cabinets were complimented with brass hardware and custom wood features, including a hood top and accent wall over the fireplace. Between each room, walls were thickened and archway were put in place, providing the home with even more character.

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

This homeowner wanted to make use of every possible space available so we added panels on the end that open into shallow adjustable shelves. This is ideal from storing spices to multivitamins and other small items that tend to get lost in larger pantries. WW Photography

A young couple with three small children purchased this full floor loft in Tribeca in need of a gut renovation. The existing apartment was plagued with awkward spaces, limited natural light and an outdated décor. It was also lacking the required third child’s bedroom desperately needed for their newly expanded family. StudioLAB aimed for a fluid open-plan layout in the larger public spaces while creating smaller, tighter quarters in the rear private spaces to satisfy the family’s programmatic wishes. 3 small children’s bedrooms were carved out of the rear lower level connected by a communal playroom and a shared kid’s bathroom. Upstairs, the master bedroom and master bathroom float above the kid’s rooms on a mezzanine accessed by a newly built staircase. Ample new storage was built underneath the staircase as an extension of the open kitchen and dining areas. A custom pull out drawer containing the food and water bowls was installed for the family’s two dogs to be hidden away out of site when not in use. All wall surfaces, existing and new, were limited to a bright but warm white finish to create a seamless integration in the ceiling and wall structures allowing the spatial progression of the space and sculptural quality of the midcentury modern furniture pieces and colorful original artwork, painted by the wife’s brother, to enhance the space. The existing tin ceiling was left in the living room to maximize ceiling heights and remain a reminder of the historical details of the original construction. A new central AC system was added with an exposed cylindrical duct running along the long living room wall. A small office nook was built next to the elevator tucked away to be out of site.

Black and tan are such an elegant color palette. It was a perfect finishing touch for this masculine 3/4 bathroom remodel. We modified this 1950's bathroom to allow entry from 2 rooms. Since we were working with a narrow, slim space we were limited for sink counter depth. The option was to use a very narrow wall mount sink, 12" max or have something custom made. In the long run, the custom counter was the way to go. This allows a lot of counter space and storage and still leaves plenty of access to the shower.

The neutral color scheme of this master bedroom keeps it peaceful and elegant, with a touch of glamour. The wallpaper and bedding have a light shimmer to them, as does the fabric used for the curtain panels. The wood floors were left uncovered so the client can easily move around the room in his wheelchair. Photo by Ian Coleman.

Tom Story | This family beach house and guest cottage sits perched above the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor. A portion of the main house originally housed 1930’s era changing rooms for a Beach Club which included distinguished visitors such as Will Rogers. An apt connection for the new owners also have Oklahoma ties. The structures were limited to one story due to historic easements, therefore both buildings have fully developed basements featuring large windows and French doors to access European style exterior terraces and stairs up to grade. The main house features 5 bedrooms and 5 baths. Custom cabinetry throughout in built-in furniture style. A large design team helped to bring this exciting project to fruition. The house includes Passive Solar heated design, Solar Electric and Solar Hot Water systems. 4,500sf/420m House + 1300 sf Cottage - 6bdrm

A stunning and stylish floor plan with numerous features throughout for everything you could desire in a home. A charming front porch leads you into this home where you immediately are greeted by the expansive great room with optional see-through fireplace into hearth area. The study with optional coffered ceiling could serve as 4th bedroom. The open kitchen, dining area, and hearth area allows for plenty of natural light. A secluded first-floor owner's suite with optional tray ceiling includes a private bath with double bowl vanity and expansive closet. The 2nd floor boasts 2 other bedrooms, a full bath, and a large loft. An optional outdoor living area, accessible from the dining area, is available as well. (Pricing may reflect limited-time savings/incentives. See Community Sales Manager for details.)

design: Studio TOOP, 2013 location: Rotterdam, NL status: built in 2014, Weldam Groenprojecten photo: Hans Clauzing, 2014 Our good friend Gerda is an avid photographer with a special interest in nature photography and butterflies. She also suffers from a lung disease that sometimes leaves her less mobile and able to head out to pursue this passion. A garden to take pictures in, even when you're not up to heading further out into the world. That was the main goal of this garden. With limited means and the use of affordable materials we created a wheel chair friendly garden that offers ample space for both human and wild life.

This stunning contemporary home located at 378 Margarita Dr San Rafael CA is gracefully integrated on 2 acres and surrounded by protected open space affording complete privacy, and commanding spectacular views of Marin including iconic Mt. Tamalpais. The spacious open floor plan includes 2 family rooms, a large open-concept kitchen, 4 large bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Inviting decks off the common rooms and all the bedrooms give this home a serene indoor-outdoor feel. Perfect for entertaining. There is also a level outdoor patio area surrounded by beautiful California oaks. Just up the hill off the gated private drive is adjacent land trust property with a level plateau and panoramic views of the bay, 2 bridges, Oakland, San Francisco, Mt. Tamalpais and much of Marin. While not part of the property, due to its close proximity and limited public access the current owners of 378 Margarita often use this plateau for yoga, fireworks viewing and informal parties. Just one of the many perks of being surrounded by pristine open space. This one-of-a-kind property is conveniently located near shops, restaurants, marinas and parks with easy access to Highway 101, San Francisco and the Wine Country.

We turned the pantry sideways for better access. Then we added decorative panels on the refrigerator side. This is with the door open.
Example of a cottage kitchen design in Nashville

This growing family of six was struggling with a dysfunctional kitchen design. The center island had been installed at an odd angle that limited accessibility and traffic flow. Additionally, storage space was limited by poor cabinet design. Finally, doorways in and out of the kitchen were narrow and poorly located, especially for children dashing in and out. Other design challenges included how to better use a 10’ x 12’ room for children’s jackets and toys and how to add a professional-quality gas range in a neighborhood were natural gas wasn’t available. The new design would address all of these issues. DESIGN SOLUTIONS The new kitchen design revolves around a more proportional island. Carefully placed in the center of the new space with seating for four, it includes a prep sink, a second dishwasher and a beverage center. The distressed ebony-stained island and hutch provides a brilliant contrast between the white color cabinetry. White Carrera marble countertops and backsplash top both island and perimeter cabinets. Tall, double stacked cabinetry lines two walls to maximize storage space. Across the room there was an unused wall that now contains a 36” tower fridge and freezer, both covered with matching panels, and a tall cabinet that contains a microwave, steam unit and warming drawer. A propane tank was buried in the back yard to provide gas to a new 60” professional range and cooktop. A custom-made wood mantel hood blends perfectly with the cabinet style. The old laundry room was reconfigured to have lots of locker space for all kids and added cabinetry for storage. A double entry door separated the new mudroom from the rest of the back hall. In the back hall the back windows were replaced with a set of French door and added decking to create a direct access to deck and backyard. The end result is an open floor plan, high-end appliances, great traffic flow and pleasing colors. The homeowner calls it the “kitchen of her dreams.”

Down-to-studs remodel and second floor addition. The original house was a simple plain ranch house with a layout that didn’t function well for the family. We changed the house to a contemporary Mediterranean with an eclectic mix of details. Space was limited by City Planning requirements so an important aspect of the design was to optimize every bit of space, both inside and outside. The living space extends out to functional places in the back and front yards: a private shaded back yard and a sunny seating area in the front yard off the kitchen where neighbors can easily mingle with the family. A Japanese bath off the master bedroom upstairs overlooks a private roof deck which is screened from neighbors’ views by a trellis with plants growing from planter boxes and with lanterns hanging from a trellis above. Photography by Kurt Manley. https://saikleyarchitects.com/portfolio/modern-mediterranean/