It all started with the dishwasher springing a leak while the clients were on vacation. Their home was built around 2002 and it needed to be updated. With the significant water damage it was the time to call in Arlene Ladegaard of Design Connection, Inc to help create a design plan and selections for the contractor, as well new furnishings to replace the old tired pieces that dated back many years. The plan for the main floor included: New hardwood floors installed in Hickory imported from Oregon and finished to a dark brown patina, the golden oak throughout darkened to a beautiful rich coffee bean finish, as well as the kitchen cabinets, paint colors, a new kitchen backsplash and hood, countertops, custom cabinets and wall coverings. Design Connection, Inc. provided: Project Management, designs plans, tile, wall coverings, countertops tops, custom cabinets, furniture, area rugs, lamps, paint selections, faux painting and accessories.

A single-family detached house and its garden form a whole together with the nature. That building, dated back to 90s, has been completely renovated and now it overlooks from Chia hill the surrounding view: a slice of heaven where bays and small coves, with the green of Mediterranean scrub on top, get lost in the blue of the see. Bougainvillea, ivy, begonia climb up the split stoned outside walls and the pillars. The barbecue area, protected by the wooden pergola, has been recreated to enjoy outdoors convivial meals. The living room, with a wide sliding glass window, overlooks the spacious veranda, the garden and the breathtaking view. The refined materials, like the Cerasarda ceramic flooring, create a continuity between the garden area and the external courtyard emphasising light and colours of nature. Other remarkable features of the villa are: the first floor staircase covered with hand made Cerasarda ceramic and the Mediterranean style bathrooms. The internal and external lighting is studied to create light games and suggestive sceneries. The total white, that prevailed in the interior of the house, is contrasted by earth colours. The white and coloured linen curtains frame the magic of the surrounding view. The wrought-iron skilfully arranged in the internal handrail and in the external balustrade reproduces the sinuosity of a climbing ranch. The demotics employed makes the villa and its garden totally manageable with a tablet: creating personalised light scenery, managing the air-conditioning of the rooms and the irrigation of the garden.

There are some rooms you design to be current, or trendy, or fresh and new. Then there are Some that are designed to tell a story. This room is a collection of furniture and items that have been in the family for decades. I think all the members get nostalgic when entering this room. The maroon leather chairs from Dads old billiards room. The family portraits with 80s hair dos (which by the way don't ever throw out, who cares if they are a little dated display those bad boys). A rug that has seen at least two generations of babies grow up. All items collected over time. We added in some new drapery/pillows/Romans, some new lighting, and a few new accessories and voila. Design: Michelle Berwick Design Photography: Sam Stock Photography Other Credits: Tonic Living , Living Lighting, Wayfair Canada, Homesense Canada

Danish Modern is one of the several types of Modern design style. Popularized in Denmark from the 1940s-1970s, Danish modern furniture design was a collaboration between the principles of modern architecture and the high-quality cabinetmaking for which the Danes were known. Simple, elegant, airy, and featuring clean, sweeping lines, the furnishings are inherently warm and beautiful. This open dining room is a collection of vintage Danish modern furniture dating from the early 1970s. The authentic pieces were located at different auction houses and specialty consigners around the country to create a cohesive look the homeowners were seeking. The solid teak sideboard features a lighted upper display cabinet (removable) showcasing the homeowners’ collection of art including Nambé, Murano, Vietri sul Mare, and Blenko. The lower cabinet consists of two sliding doors on either end offering plentiful storage. In between are a bank of five felt-lined drawers for items such as silverware, trays and linens. With graceful rounded corners and rich, warm teak woodgrain, the dining room table is a perfect match to the sideboard. Two leaves tightly drop in and enable expansion with seating capacity for 14 people. Mixing up dining chairs adds interest and variety. The curvaceous and timeless Arne Jacobsen (the Danish designer) Series 7 chair in black is the perfect pairing for this dynamic design. Crowning the space is the airy, translucent classic Nelson bubble lamp, keeping in line with the Modernist theme.

These homeowners were anxiously ready to remodel their dated 80’s kitchen and reached out to Renovisions to handle the transformation. In this new undertaking we met to discuss plans to brighten the dark room with custom painted white inset cabinets, adding more functional storage, better task lighting and GE Monogram appliances, new hardwood flooring throughout and creating a better flow into the adjacent family room. In order to open up the space, Renovisions suggested creating an angle at the peninsula. Continuing with this approach we replaced the rear door with a new one-light door that swings out instead of in to accommodate new bar stools and a better flow of traffic in and out to the deck outside. Silestone’s quartz countertops in ‘Merope’ were the perfect choice adding a nice contrast yet truly durable and low maintenance. Creating a beautifully unique subway tile niche in linen color at cooktop area and backsplash added an elegant touch to the overall look and homeowners were thrilled with this refreshing look after the Renovision. Now their newly renovated kitchen is a showcase and nicely outfitted for family and friends.

The primary bedroom and bathroom are the showstoppers of this phase! Unused and awkwardly located closets in both the bedroom and bathroom were removed to make way for additional square-footage in the bath and replaced with a sizable and functional reach-in closet in the bedroom. A dated and cramped shower stall was removed in favor for an expansive step in shower spanning the width of the bathroom and a new transom window washes the room in natural light. While the previous bathroom was only able to accommodate a single vanity, the new layout allowed us to create double matching vanities mirrored across from each other - a much appreciated addition for a primary bath. Floating walnut vanities boast impressive storage and are capped with tower cabinets with hidden outlets for charging and storing electronic bathroom tools. While the color palette is restrained - black, white, gray, and brown - the result is a timelessly modern and masculine space that is at once striking and warm. Modern geometric patterns play with each other throughout the material selections.

Ann Lowengart Interiors took a dated Lafayette Tuscan-inspired villa and transformed it into a timeless Californian ranch. The 5,045 Sq. Ft gated estate sited on 2.8-acres boasts panoramic views of Mt. Diablo, Briones Regional Park, and surrounding hills. Ann Lowengart dressed the modern interiors in a cool color palette punctuated by moody blues and Hermès orange that are casually elegant for a family with tween children and several animals. Unique to the residence is an indigo-walled library complete with a hidden bar for the adults to imbibe in.

These homeowners approached us with their design in mind which we were able to tweak for improved utilization of space. Their master bath was dated and required complete demolition to the studs, where we found some hidden space that we were able to use in the shower. By eliminating the tub, we were able to use that space for a large shower with custom handmade tile in a creative pattern utilizing mosaic, hexagon and accent tiles, and radiant floor heat was added to the bathroom floor for added comfort. By relocating the stool room, we were able to provide a custom extra deep linen cabinet for additional storage. His and Hers custom vanity’s in a painted Alpine finish with chocolate glaze and Cambria Windermere countertops book end the spacious shower, complete with a floating bench and niche for toiletries. Champagne Bronze plumbing fixtures and Visual Comfort sconces complement the geometric wallpaper and decorative beveled mirrors complete the eye-catching bathroom.

These homeowners were anxiously ready to remodel their dated 80’s kitchen and reached out to Renovisions to handle the transformation. In this new undertaking we met to discuss plans to brighten the dark room with custom painted white inset cabinets, adding more functional storage, better task lighting and GE Monogram appliances, new hardwood flooring throughout and creating a better flow into the adjacent family room. In order to open up the space, Renovisions suggested creating an angle at the peninsula. Continuing with this approach we replaced the rear door with a new one-light door that swings out instead of in to accommodate new bar stools and a better flow of traffic in and out to the deck outside. Silestone’s quartz countertops in ‘Merope’ were the perfect choice adding a nice contrast yet truly durable and low maintenance. Creating a beautifully unique subway tile niche in linen color at cooktop area and backsplash added an elegant touch to the overall look and homeowners were thrilled with this refreshing look after the Renovision. Now their newly renovated kitchen is a showcase and nicely outfitted for family and friends.

These homeowners approached us with their design in mind which we were able to tweak for improved utilization of space. Their master bath was dated and required complete demolition to the studs, where we found some hidden space that we were able to use in the shower. By eliminating the tub, we were able to use that space for a large shower with custom handmade tile in a creative pattern utilizing mosaic, hexagon and accent tiles, and radiant floor heat was added to the bathroom floor for added comfort. By relocating the stool room, we were able to provide a custom extra deep linen cabinet for additional storage. His and Hers custom vanity’s in a painted Alpine finish with chocolate glaze and Cambria Windermere countertops book end the spacious shower, complete with a floating bench and niche for toiletries. Champagne Bronze plumbing fixtures and Visual Comfort sconces complement the geometric wallpaper and decorative beveled mirrors complete the eye-catching bathroom.

This exciting renovation improved both the look and functionality of our client’s Master Ensuite and Shared Bathroom. Both rooms had both dated aesthetics and dysfunctional layouts, but more importantly, they required updated plumbing due to an old renovation where the plumbing had been done incorrectly and had caused leaking and ceiling damage below. To solve the leaks, and provide better function in both Bathrooms, fixtures in the Shared Bathroom were relocated, and the previously installed plumbing connections were corrected. This solved the leak issues and provided improved function in both Bathrooms. A rarely used large corner tub in the Master Ensuite was eliminated to accommodate a spacious walk-in shower with a bench, and a custom wall-to-wall double vanity provided a nice aesthetic and lots of useful storage. The tub and toilet in the Shared Bathroom were switched and new custom vanity and linen cabinets were installed. Each Bathroom was given its own distinct look. Porcelain tiles made to look like marble, and mosaics accentuated with patterned floor tiles, luxurious marble knobs and handles, and beautiful jewel faucets gave the Master Ensuite a Transitional charm. The Shared Bathroom was completed with large format black porcelain tiles with a marble look, glass accent mosaics, and modern plumbing fixtures gave the room an eclectic flair. The project was finished on time, and our clients couldn’t be happier! They can now enjoy their personalized Shared Bathroom and Master Ensuite, with the comfort of knowing the plumbing is installed correctly.

This kitchen took a tired, 80’s builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful client. The existing space was split up by the dated configuration of eat-in kitchen table area to one side and cramped workspace on the other. It didn’t just under-serve our client’s needs; it flat out discouraged them from using the space. Our client desired an open kitchen with a central gathering space where family and friends could connect. To open things up, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and the wall that blocked sight lines to the family room and created a narrow hallway to the kitchen. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and dark. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in linen white to brighten up the room. On the east wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features an appliance garage that keeps often used countertop appliance on hand but out of sight. The hutch also acts as a transition from the cooking zone to the coffee and wine area. We eliminated the north window that looked onto the entry walkway and activated this wall as storage with refrigerator enclosure and pantry. We opted to leave the east window as-is and incorporated it into the new kitchen layout by creating a window well for growing plants and herbs. The countertops are Pental Quartz in Carrara. The sleek cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous satin champagne bronze. One of the most striking features in the space is the pattern encaustic tile from Tile Shop. The pop of blue in the backsplash adds personality and contrast to the champagne accents. The reclaimed wood cladding surrounding the large east-facing window introduces a quintessential Colorado vibe, and the natural texture balances the crisp white cabinetry and geometric patterned tile. Minimalist modern lighting fixtures from Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting provide task lighting over the sink and at the wine/ coffee station. The visual lightness of the sink pendants maintains the openness and visual connection between the kitchen and dining room. Together the elements make for a sophisticated yet casual vibe-- a comfortable chic kitchen. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a bright and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

This kitchen took a tired, 80’s builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful client. The existing space was split up by the dated configuration of eat-in kitchen table area to one side and cramped workspace on the other. It didn’t just under-serve our client’s needs; it flat out discouraged them from using the space. Our client desired an open kitchen with a central gathering space where family and friends could connect. To open things up, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and the wall that blocked sight lines to the family room and created a narrow hallway to the kitchen. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and dark. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in linen white to brighten up the room. On the east wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features an appliance garage that keeps often used countertop appliance on hand but out of sight. The hutch also acts as a transition from the cooking zone to the coffee and wine area. We eliminated the north window that looked onto the entry walkway and activated this wall as storage with refrigerator enclosure and pantry. We opted to leave the east window as-is and incorporated it into the new kitchen layout by creating a window well for growing plants and herbs. The countertops are Pental Quartz in Carrara. The sleek cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous satin champagne bronze. One of the most striking features in the space is the pattern encaustic tile from Tile Shop. The pop of blue in the backsplash adds personality and contrast to the champagne accents. The reclaimed wood cladding surrounding the large east-facing window introduces a quintessential Colorado vibe, and the natural texture balances the crisp white cabinetry and geometric patterned tile. Minimalist modern lighting fixtures from Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting provide task lighting over the sink and at the wine/ coffee station. The visual lightness of the sink pendants maintains the openness and visual connection between the kitchen and dining room. Together the elements make for a sophisticated yet casual vibe-- a comfortable chic kitchen. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a bright and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

Fish & Beatrice purchased this 1980’s home and wanted to update the feel and look, starting with the master bathroom. The bathroom was oddly shaped. The shower had a bump-out that made the shower smaller and there was wasted space behind the entry door. The dated lighting and the wasted space created dull and dark pockets. The room had great bones but lacked in design. Meeting with them, we learned that they wanted a classic modern style bathroom that was open and clean. We went to the drawing board and started collaborating on a design that we all loved. In the shower we removed the bump-out, increasing the shower floor plan. We also took the shower wall tile to the ceiling. By doing this the shower visually looked larger and custom. By using two different shower wall tiles we created a soft juxtaposition of the soft and hard textures. We used a fabric tile for the shower side walls. This tile is Touch Snow from Arizona Tile. The back wall tile is from Monterrey Tile called Stone Mood Silver. These two tiles together create a calming effect as you noticed the creamy vein of the stone, compliments the Linen texture of the fabric. To compliment the walls, this pebble from Arizona Tile shows an array of colors that contrast and enhance the look.

These homeowners were anxiously ready to remodel their dated 80’s kitchen and reached out to Renovisions to handle the transformation. In this new undertaking we met to discuss plans to brighten the dark room with custom painted white inset cabinets, adding more functional storage, better task lighting and GE Monogram appliances, new hardwood flooring throughout and creating a better flow into the adjacent family room. In order to open up the space, Renovisions suggested creating an angle at the peninsula. Continuing with this approach we replaced the rear door with a new one-light door that swings out instead of in to accommodate new bar stools and a better flow of traffic in and out to the deck outside. Silestone’s quartz countertops in ‘Merope’ were the perfect choice adding a nice contrast yet truly durable and low maintenance. Creating a beautifully unique subway tile niche in linen color at cooktop area and backsplash added an elegant touch to the overall look and homeowners were thrilled with this refreshing look after the Renovision. Now their newly renovated kitchen is a showcase and nicely outfitted for family and friends.

This kitchen took a tired, 80’s builder kitchen and revamped it into a personalized gathering space for our wonderful client. The existing space was split up by the dated configuration of eat-in kitchen table area to one side and cramped workspace on the other. It didn’t just under-serve our client’s needs; it flat out discouraged them from using the space. Our client desired an open kitchen with a central gathering space where family and friends could connect. To open things up, we removed the half wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and the wall that blocked sight lines to the family room and created a narrow hallway to the kitchen. The old oak cabinets weren't maximizing storage and were dated and dark. We used Waypoint Living Spaces cabinets in linen white to brighten up the room. On the east wall, we created a hutch-like stack that features an appliance garage that keeps often used countertop appliance on hand but out of sight. The hutch also acts as a transition from the cooking zone to the coffee and wine area. We eliminated the north window that looked onto the entry walkway and activated this wall as storage with refrigerator enclosure and pantry. We opted to leave the east window as-is and incorporated it into the new kitchen layout by creating a window well for growing plants and herbs. The countertops are Pental Quartz in Carrara. The sleek cabinet hardware is from our friends at Amerock in a gorgeous satin champagne bronze. One of the most striking features in the space is the pattern encaustic tile from Tile Shop. The pop of blue in the backsplash adds personality and contrast to the champagne accents. The reclaimed wood cladding surrounding the large east-facing window introduces a quintessential Colorado vibe, and the natural texture balances the crisp white cabinetry and geometric patterned tile. Minimalist modern lighting fixtures from Mitzi by Hudson Valley Lighting provide task lighting over the sink and at the wine/ coffee station. The visual lightness of the sink pendants maintains the openness and visual connection between the kitchen and dining room. Together the elements make for a sophisticated yet casual vibe-- a comfortable chic kitchen. We love the way this space turned out and are so happy that our clients now have such a bright and welcoming gathering space as the heart of their home!

  Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW   This client came to us in a bit of a panic when she realized that she really wanted her bathroom to be updated by March 1st due to having 2 daughters getting married in the spring and one graduating. We were only about 5 months out from that date, but decided we were up for the challenge. The beautiful historical home was built in 1896 by an ornithologist (bird expert), so we took our cues from that as a starting point. The flooring is a vintage basket weave of marble and limestone, the shower walls of the tub shower conversion are clad in subway tile with a vintage feel. The lighting, mirror and plumbing fixtures all have a vintage vibe that feels both fitting and up to date. To give a little of an eclectic feel, we chose a custom green paint color for the linen cabinet, mushroom paint for the ship lap paneling that clads the walls and selected a vintage mirror that ties in the color from the existing door trim. We utilized some antique trim from the home for the wainscot cap for more vintage flavor. The drama in the bathroom comes from the wallpaper and custom shower curtain, both in William Morris’s iconic “Strawberry Thief” print that tells the story of thrushes stealing fruit, so fitting for the home’s history. There is a lot of this pattern in a very small space, so we were careful to make sure the pattern on the wallpaper and shower curtain aligned. A sweet little bird tie back for the shower curtain completes the story... Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

This kitchen remodel in Lakewood has undergone such an amazing transformation from a dark, dated space to bright and functional! We experienced many obstacles in this tight space but was able to design around the challenges to create a beautiful and functional space. The original design intent was to bring the cabinets all the way to the ceiling but found out this wasn’t an option as all the soffits had interior mechanical systems and couldn’t be reconfigured. One solution was to raise the soffits on the range and sink walls to gain an extra 6” of cabinet space and build out the soffit above the refrigerator to create a custom built-in look. This extension of the soffit created the perfect opportunity for a narrow pantry cabinet facing the dining room which adds much needed storage space. By painting the soffits the same color as the cabinets, we were able to install the crown trim on top of the soffit in lieu of the cabinets to create the illusion of taller cabinets and lengthening the ceiling height. We omitted the wall cabinet to the left of the range to create a more open space both visibly and functionally. This provided the opportunity to install an accent pendant over the open counter which has been lowered to maintain one counter height throughout for a seamless look. Decorative door panels give the perfect finishing touches on the cabinetry and truly convey a custom look. The cabinets were finished in Waypoint’s Shaker style in Linen color and were paired with Amrock’s stunning gunmetal finish hardware. The existing floor tile was replaced with Daltile’s Forest Park Maple wood-look plank which now extends into the dining room creating a natural separation of kitchen/dining space to the adjacent Family room. The warmth of the floor tile compliments the Linen cabinetry color and Gunmetal finishes throughout. This beautiful kitchen offers a beautiful and functional design solution and we are thrilled our client can love their personalized kitchen for many years to come!

Fish & Beatrice purchased this 1980’s home and wanted to update the feel and look, starting with the master bathroom. The bathroom was oddly shaped. The shower had a bump-out that made the shower smaller and there was wasted space behind the entry door. The dated lighting and the wasted space created dull and dark pockets. The room had great bones but lacked in design. Meeting with them, we learned that they wanted a classic modern style bathroom that was open and clean. We went to the drawing board and started collaborating on a design that we all loved. In the shower we removed the bump-out, increasing the shower floor plan. We also took the shower wall tile to the ceiling. By doing this the shower visually looked larger and custom. By using two different shower wall tiles we created a soft juxtaposition of the soft and hard textures. We used a fabric tile for the shower side walls. This tile is Touch Snow from Arizona Tile. The back wall tile is from Monterrey Tile called Stone Mood Silver. These two tiles together create a calming effect as you noticed the creamy vein of the stone, compliments the Linen texture of the fabric. To compliment the walls, this pebble from Arizona Tile shows an array of colors that contrast and enhance the look.