The original intent of this project was to replace the island, hood, countertops, and a few appliances. A primary bath remodel was the main priority. But once the couple realized certain features would enhance the functionality of the kitchen – not to mention completely change the aesthetic – they put the master bath on hold and decided to remodel the entire kitchen first. Design objectives: -Omit separate table, plan for a larger island that would seat 7 people -Simple, clean lines – no rounded corners or weird angles -Nothing trendy – use modern classic details -Uncluttered countertops -Better pantry storage for food & small appliances -Integrated major appliances -Coffee bar -Avoid “1 color on perimeter with second color on island” -Integrate a harmonious variety of finishes -Integrate black & handmade metals Design challenges: -Island shape to fit within confines of existing half wall between kitchen & family room & bay window/door to backyard -Narrow kitchen with major walkway -Planning for 7 seats at the island -Keep guest social area away from the cook’s zone -Place appliances according to use -Point-of-use storage for an avid cook within a relatively small space -Integrate colors without looking too busy THE NEW KITCHEN -While the island is mostly rectangular, the seating area utilizes the bay extension without interfering with the exterior door -All seating is placed on the outside perimeter of the island, giving the cook dedicated prep space -The L-shaped seating area & adjacent coffee bar encourage guests to gather on the outside edge of the kitchen where they can still interact with the cook -Island prep space includes 5 feet of versatile drawer storage, double waste basket and an open paper towel dispenser -One pantry designated for food; the other for small appliances & bulk storage; creates visual armoire look -Microwave drawer in island faces refrigerator for easy access & less interference with cook’s zone -Appliance garages avoid clutter on the countertops -Off-white upper cabinets make the kitchen look larger while the black bases offer contrast without closing in the space Once the client committed to remodeling her entire kitchen, she had a good idea of the direction she wanted the space to take. Even so, there were many details that remained open to explore & contemplate. The end result is modern, clean and ultimately transitional – a creative vision anchored in functionality and artistry! A powder room remodel was added to the project that beautifully compliments the kitchen aesthetic. The entire staircase, all trim & doors were painted in the same tones as the kitchen, transforming the entire first floor into a cohesive & welcoming space. It was a great collaborative partnership!

A major remodeling project results in a spacious home designed for a busy family. An open floor plan and state-of-the-art kitchen are perfect for entertaining a crowd.

The scope of work for this major remodeling project in Mill Valley included Preliminary Design, Design Review submittal and approval, Architectural Design, and Building Permit submittal and approval. Thayer Architecture Inc. worked closely with the Owner to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional design that fit the requirements of the Town, the Owner and the Site. Lighting and interior design were by others.

The scope of work for this major remodeling project in Mill Valley included Preliminary Design, Design Review submittal and approval, Architectural Design, and Building Permit submittal and approval. Thayer Architecture Inc. worked closely with the Owner to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional design that fit the requirements of the Town, the Owner and the Site. Lighting and interior design were by others.

Inspiration for a coastal beige tile and ceramic tile alcove shower remodel in Los Angeles with dark wood cabinets, a one-piece toilet, beige walls, an undermount sink, quartzite countertops and a hinged shower door

The scope of work for this major remodeling project in Mill Valley included Preliminary Design, Design Review submittal and approval, Architectural Design, and Building Permit submittal and approval. Thayer Architecture Inc. worked closely with the Owner to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional design that fit the requirements of the Town, the Owner and the Site. Lighting and interior design were by others.

Example of a beach style guest marble floor bedroom design in Los Angeles with white walls

contemporary home with Infinity Pool View at Studio city north Hollywood mountains
Beach style rooftop rectangular hot tub photo in Los Angeles with decking

Screened porch view of major renovation project at Lake Lemon in Unionville, IN - HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Christopher Short - Derek Mills - WERK | Building Modern

The scope of work for this major remodeling project in Mill Valley included Preliminary Design, Design Review submittal and approval, Architectural Design, and Building Permit submittal and approval. Thayer Architecture Inc. worked closely with the Owner to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional design that fit the requirements of the Town, the Owner and the Site. Lighting and interior design were by others.

Lakeside view of major renovation project at Lake Lemon in Unionville, IN - HAUS | Architecture For Modern Lifestyles - Christopher Short - Derek Mills - WERK | Building Modern

This months featured project took place in Scarsdale, NY. This is the second remodeling project we completed for this family who love their Tudor style home. This home addition in Scarsdale, wrapped up in 2022, took 8 months to complete and required some major changes. Our clients goals were to increase their living space by adding a family room, create a home office, add two additional bedrooms, a new bathroom as well as an expanded existing bathroom. One of the major changes that needed to take place in order to accommodate this large scale addition was to relocate the driveway. Some of the material features include, Pella Windows / Architect Series, 2 1/4’ oak flooring, natural oak vanities, Kohler brushed nickel fixtures, and specialty knobs.

Example of a beach style marble floor great room design in Los Angeles with white walls

The original intent of this project was to replace the island, hood, countertops, and a few appliances. A primary bath remodel was the main priority. But once the couple realized certain features would enhance the functionality of the kitchen – not to mention completely change the aesthetic – they put the master bath on hold and decided to remodel the entire kitchen first. Design objectives: -Omit separate table, plan for a larger island that would seat 7 people -Simple, clean lines – no rounded corners or weird angles -Nothing trendy – use modern classic details -Uncluttered countertops -Better pantry storage for food & small appliances -Integrated major appliances -Coffee bar -Avoid “1 color on perimeter with second color on island” -Integrate a harmonious variety of finishes -Integrate black & handmade metals Design challenges: -Island shape to fit within confines of existing half wall between kitchen & family room & bay window/door to backyard -Narrow kitchen with major walkway -Planning for 7 seats at the island -Keep guest social area away from the cook’s zone -Place appliances according to use -Point-of-use storage for an avid cook within a relatively small space -Integrate colors without looking too busy THE NEW KITCHEN -While the island is mostly rectangular, the seating area utilizes the bay extension without interfering with the exterior door -All seating is placed on the outside perimeter of the island, giving the cook dedicated prep space -The L-shaped seating area & adjacent coffee bar encourage guests to gather on the outside edge of the kitchen where they can still interact with the cook -Island prep space includes 5 feet of versatile drawer storage, double waste basket and an open paper towel dispenser -One pantry designated for food; the other for small appliances & bulk storage; creates visual armoire look -Microwave drawer in island faces refrigerator for easy access & less interference with cook’s zone -Appliance garages avoid clutter on the countertops -Off-white upper cabinets make the kitchen look larger while the black bases offer contrast without closing in the space Once the client committed to remodeling her entire kitchen, she had a good idea of the direction she wanted the space to take. Even so, there were many details that remained open to explore & contemplate. The end result is modern, clean and ultimately transitional – a creative vision anchored in functionality and artistry! A powder room remodel was added to the project that beautifully compliments the kitchen aesthetic. The entire staircase, all trim & doors were painted in the same tones as the kitchen, transforming the entire first floor into a cohesive & welcoming space. It was a great collaborative partnership!

Example of a trendy kitchen design in Toronto

This months featured project took place in Scarsdale, NY. This is the second remodeling project we completed for this family who love their Tudor style home. This home addition in Scarsdale, wrapped up in 2022, took 8 months to complete and required some major changes. Our clients goals were to increase their living space by adding a family room, create a home office, add two additional bedrooms, a new bathroom as well as an expanded existing bathroom. One of the major changes that needed to take place in order to accommodate this large scale addition was to relocate the driveway. Some of the material features include, Pella Windows / Architect Series, 2 1/4’ oak flooring, natural oak vanities, Kohler brushed nickel fixtures, and specialty knobs.

This project was nearly a complete gut renovation of an existing Victorian built in the 1890’s. We did save or rebuild major elements such as the exterior millwork, ornate entry stair and stained glass windows. An addition to the south side of the house integrated the rooflines and exterior details to create a seamless blend between the old and new. The goal of the project was to modernize the house and interior layout while still keeping the feel of a traditional home. Major elements in the scope included a completely new open kitchen, expanded living room, new master bedroom and bath suite, all new family baths and powder room. The renovation also included a library to house the owner’s extensive book collection as well as a basement workout and family room area. One primary request of the owners was to rid the house of a bat infestation problem due to poorly detailed roof vents. Once we rebuilt the roof soffits and provided new insulation for the house, the bat issue was resolved.

Hi Friends! I’m sooooooooo excited to share our first ever kitchen makeover with you!! Do you like Fixer Upper? If so, you’ll probably enjoy this kitchen makeover. It started back in June with the Interior Design phase. Ann hired me to be the interior designer for her dining room and entry way. The week we finished the entry way, she stopped by our store and said, “what room would you like to design next?”. I felt weird about telling her a room needed a makeover but she promised not to have hurt feelings! So I jumped at the idea of redoing her kitchen! She has a small kitchen but I knew we could breathe new life into it and make it a fun place to have friends over. Ann had other people give her quotes to redo the kitchen but they wanted to rip walls down and make it a major renovation project. Ann didn’t go for it and loved that I wanted to keep the original shape and size, but give it new life again. To share the pictures of the kitchen after the remodel wouldn’t be the same without showing the before pictures. Let’s start with the fridge wall, shall we? I didn’t like the placement of the fridge or that the island was all wood. You’ll see in the next few pictures that there is very little kitchen cabinet space so I wanted to make the island look like the rest of the cabinets and add exposed shelving above it. I sent Ann three different design ideas for the kitchen but my favorite design was one that included all retro style appliances from Big Chill. With such a small room, a retro design could incorporate fun appliances. I was elated to find out that she wanted to go with the retro appliances plan!!! We also added white shiplap to the bottom half of the wall to add even more texture to the space. I wanted to make the fridge the focal point of the room so I moved it to the middle, then put the island on the left and built exposed shelving to go above it. We also added LED lights under each shelf to brighten up that corner. Let’s move on to the wall with the stove. The stove needed to be replaced, but I felt like this space also needed more storage. Here it is before: Storage was tricky because behind the butcher block was a heater that couldn’t be covered. We decided to build a cabinet that looked like a counter but with metal on the bottom to let the heat out but still give her work space and built a custom cabinet to also provide more storage. Scroll back up and take a look at the door to the left of the stove. The rest of Ann’s house has beautiful mahogany doors and I wanted these to match so we stripped off all the paint, sanded them down and stained them to match. I love the timeless look that gives this kitchen. Refinishing the doors was probably Johns least favorite part of this renovation. Now check out the difference! Moving on to the sink section. The dark color of the cabinets made this space feel small.The doors and drawers were really basic so John added decorative trim to make it seem more modern and high end. Here’s a close up on those: John also build the counter top from scratch using solid maple. That was probably the hardest part of the remodel. Not the install, but the build itself. It was definitely worth it though! We went with a GE retro dishwasher because we wanted white. The hardware is all from Restoration Hardware. What would a kitchen makeover be without a farmhouse sink anyway?? The rug added another deign element that made the kitchen fun and fresh. The tile is from Lowes and we went with a dark gray grout. Since the windows look out to her back yard, I wanted to skip on curtains and leave it open and sunshiney. Ann already had this antique coffee grinder and I definitely wanted to incorporate it into the kitchen design. Isn’t it awesome?!?

A major remodeling project results in a spacious home designed for a busy family. An open floor plan and state-of-the-art kitchen are perfect for entertaining a crowd.